Why Chinese media says US historians are giving ‘ammunition’ to separatists
China has stepped up its offensive against a US-born school of thought on China’s last imperial dynasty, accusing it of providing “theoretical ammunition” for attempts to divide the country. The denunciation comes as online debates over the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) continue to give rise to inflammatory rhetoric, and as Beijing’s ethnic policies and historical narratives are increasingly becoming…
Chinese state media has accused US historians of giving "ammunition" to separatists by challenging traditional narratives about China's Qing dynasty. The state-run China Ethnic News warned that New Qing History, a revisionist approach to understanding the Qing's rule, is "seriously eroding the historical foundations of the Chinese nation."
The article attributed the pushback to Beijing's ethnic policies and the need to maintain a unified national narrative amid international competition. Scholars who follow the New Qing History approach draw on Manchu-language sources and other perspectives to question the idea that the Qing dynasty was solely responsible for "Sinicisation" of China's Han majority and other ethnic groups.
Critics argue that this revisionist view could provide "theoretical ammunition" for separatist forces by treating frontier regions as separate from China. While some Chinese scholars acknowledge the value of New Qing History in expanding research, they warn against its potential to push scholarship towards extreme positions. The debate has gained political significance as Beijing seeks to reshape the relationship between ethnic minorities and the state, with recent laws aimed at promoting ethnic unity.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
