In time it may become known in the annals of modern Chinese history as the May Eighth Movement - the day last week when xenophobic Chinese demonstrators poured into the streets of Chinese cities, attacking American and British diplomatic missions.
Xenophobia is the ugly cousin of nationalism, and both coexist in the mass Chinese psyche.
Ever since the West intruded on the insular Chinese imperial world three centuries ago, nationalism and xenophobic radicalism have lurked just beneath the surface of Chinese society. The Chinese Communist Party astutely tapped this sentiment and rode it to power. Ever since, the governing party has perpetuated and manipulated such popular emotions to bolster its own legitimacy and claim to rule. The recent demonstrations in the wake of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade also reveal the power of propaganda and the government's continued ability to manipulate public perceptions. The Chinese government intentionally withheld apologies by the United States and NATO from the public, thus encouraging the protests to mushroom.