Understanding What Motivates China

When dealing with China it is important for America and its allies to realize that China harbors legitimate grievances against the West and Japan.

During the 19th century many European nation states controlled and/or invaded parts of China for their own commercial and security interests. In the 20th century, Imperial Japan invaded China and committed unspeakable atrocities. These illegal incursions caused China to experience political and social chaos, something that is embedded in the memory of the Chinese.

While these ‘humiliations’ do not justify China’s recent aggressive moves, they must be considered in attempting to gain a perspective on what motivates Chinese behavior.