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Blackwell Publishing Ltd Oxford, UK PAFO Pacific Focus 0000-0000 0000-0000 © 2008 Center for International Studies, Inha University 011 10.1111/j.0000-0000.2008.00011.x June 2008 0 212??? 231??? Original Articles Chinese Nationalism and Foreign Policy AUTHORS RUNNING HEAD: Pacific Focus
Chinese Nationalism and Sino –Japanese Relations
Jing-Dong Yuan
Contemporary Chinese nationalism has its roots in the country’s nation-
building and identity-forming movements in the late 19th and early
20th centuries that sought to establish China’s place in the community
of nations. Today, nationalism in China can be characterized as falling
into two major categories. On the one hand, there is nationalism
embedded in patriotism with great pride in China’s civilization, major
achievements, and confidence in the country’s future in embracing and
meeting the challenges of globalization. On the other hand, there is
the sentimental nationalism that reacts to what is perceived as injustice
and insult done to China and has a strong victim mentality. The
domestic discourse of nationalism can be influenced by government
propaganda, intellectual debates, populous display of emotion and
repulsion, or a mixture of all three. As China continues to grow in
economic power and political influence, how nationalism is handled
can have a significant impact on relations with its neighbors and
beyond.
Key words: Chinese nationalism, Chinese foreign policy, Sino–
Japanese relations.
New waves of Chinese nationalism have been stirred up by the disruption
of the Olympic torch relay around the world, and the inflammatory remarks
by CNN commentator Jack Cafferty and the perceived biased reporting by
the network, including calls for boycotting the French supermarket chain
stores Carrefour and demands for an apology from CNN. This rising
nationalism has drawn renewed attention to an issue that has long been the
focus of China watchers in both the academic and policy-making commu-
nities. Will a rising China be a force of stability, as leaders in Beijing would
insist, or will the growing nationalist sentiments affect Chinese foreign policy
in ways that could be seen as highly destabilizing and worst still, threatening?
The immediate academic and policy-making attention has been triggered
by these and earlier events in China, such as the strong outpouring of
Pacific Focus, Vol. XXIII, No. 2 (August 2008), 212–231.
doi: 10.1111/j.1976-5118.2008.00011.x
© 2008 Center for International Studies, Inha University