China’s Century of Humiliation: Relevance Today

China’s “Century of Humiliation” describes the period from the Opium Wars through World War II. It is a key part of modern China’s founding narrative. Opinions diverge on applying the lessons from this difficult history. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) asserts that their victory in the 1949 civil war ended the Century of Humiliation, validating their legitimacy. The CCP believes that Taiwan must be united with Mainland China to correct remaining historical wrongs. Many people in Taiwan believe that the Chinese people were wronged during this period but they object to the CCP using this narrative to take control of Taiwan. We will explore what was the Century of Humiliation and how it is being used in modern politics.