For my part, I didn’t quite enjoy the video. Johnny’s arguments are easily toppled by historical facts that he decided to skip in order to render his theory more attractive. For instance, while it’s true China witnessed a cycle of unity and division in its entire history, she equally witnessed long periods of unity, most notably under Qing (~300 years), Han (~400 years), and Xia (~500 years) dynasties.
About the myth of “making China great again”, this was overstated; the peak of Chinese expansion was under Qing dynasty which dates no more than 40 years before the CCP came to power. Yet he didn’t mention it, and even claimed it never existed. Even his animations skipped from Ming straight to PRC, basically skipping half a millenium.
Furthermore, modern day China is truly diverse and I’m glad Johnny mentioned that, but I’d like to add the diversity of those cultures is embedded in Chinese history due to the repetitive connections between them. Just like Harris, I too have maps up my sleeve:
Xinjiang as part of Han Empire.
The territorial monstrosity that Qing Empire is
This is not to say that China’s large borders are not a result of militray expansion. But this is a plague that isn’t exclusive just to China, but expands to all unitary, centralized States.
And finally, this “central authority” that Johnny is criticizing as unnatural and unorganic is somewhat fallacious. Though I would also argue against such ruling system but for different reasons. Johnny misinterpreted (if not totally ignored) integral parts of Chinese history, especially the fact that the notions of centralization and bureaucracy is a Chinese invention that dates back to the Qin dynasty (~2200 years ago) and played a large role in the political systems of later empires.
(Sorry for typos)
Edit: changed image of Qing
Edit 2: fixed most typos
This is the kind of quality response we are looking for
How China Stole All This Land
Should have clicked away right here. Still watched it, not even worth the extra blood flow to my eyes to process it.
Also let me guess, American land is “Not stolen, because the natives didn’t deserve it anyway”
Fella, Harris has a whole ass series titled “How America stole […]”
He isn’t my cup of tea either but at least give the man merit where he deserves.
Also let me guess, American land is “Not stolen, because the natives didn’t deserve it anyway”
When does he say anything along the lines of glorifying American imperialism? He does say :
Every one of countries out there including my own are guilty of a weaponized history. The reason I am concerned and focused on this is because this mythical fake story that China is using : it can’t be fact checked within China.
So he does not say American imperialism is better, he only says it is more documented.
This video points out two important things, which is that China is an expanding empire that, like all empires, gained territory through conquest. Many people aren’t aware of this because (second point) they falsely assume or are led to believe that China as a territory is something ancient and simply always was.
The idea that China is naturally “Chinese” is a product of modern nationalism plus orientalism because Europeans couldn’t tell that large, foreign region over there isn’t one monolithic entity or nation. It’s like if people assumed Europe is just one country of “Europeans” and couldn’t tell a French person from a German person, and thus thinks it’s normal or a fact of nature if, for example, Germany ruled the whole of Europe and tried to make everyone in it German.
