Resentment-Driven Nationalism in China

Zhang Weiying argues China’s nationalism stems from a tension between present-day inferiority and a strong belief in historical superiority. This produces hypersensitivity to slights, rejection of universal values, and a reflex to oppose whatever the West supports—while seeking alignment with actors (e.g., Russia) that don’t trigger status anxiety. The dynamic shows up in public shaming and loyalty theater. — It provides a mechanism for interpreting China’s foreign-policy posture and domestic culture-war punishments, informing how outsiders read signals and craft responses.