FW: The envoy Chang Qiang and the General Ban Tsaio

["Pee, David" <Pee@rvims.nci.nih.gov>]

Sept 15, 2000

I would appreciate any comments.

David Pee

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Pee, David 
> Sent:	Thursday, September 14, 2000 2:29 PM
> To:	'fmwong99@hotmail.com'
> Subject:	The envoy Chang Qiang and the General Ban Tsaio
> 
> 
> Sept 14, 2000
> 
> Dear Sir:
> 
> I read with interest your narration of the exploits of the
> Han envoy Chang Qiang and General Ban Tsaio.  These two famous historical
> personage are well known to all Chinese grade school students.  But the
> only thing we were taught was that they explored or campaigned in the
> "Western Region", i.e. She Ryu.  After so many years, it was gratifying to
> find out the actual paths of their journeys from your article.  I was
> wondering if you could provide some references which you based your
> article on.  
> 
> The only part that I don't agree with your article, is your statement that
> "our ancestors are not a greedy or land hungry people".  This statement
> almost sounds like the Japanese justification about their aims and goals
> for the so called "Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere". It also echoes
> what Hitler said after each march by the Whermacht into the Rhineland,
> Austria and Czechoslovakia.  Similarly, the gradual western expansion by
> white immigrants in the United States were usually preceded by iron clad
> peace treaties with the American Indians.  I realize that all races like
> to believe that they are uniquely "peace loving", but I must say, as an
> ethnic Chinese, that our ancestors weren't even close to being
> "non-aggressive and non-hegemonistic".  When we were strong, we conquered
> and when we were weak, we were brutalized by the Tatars.  I think that
> this is a form of geo-political Darwinism.  Remember, the Han people
> started out as a few small tribes located in a small region around the
> banks of the Yellow River.  The fact that the Chinese nation now spans
> such an immense geographical area cannot be attributed to the greatness of
> the Chinese civilization and the natural yearnings of barbaric people for
> cultural enlightment, the standard line feed to Chinese students.
> "Manifest Destiny" is the foundation block of empire building since the
> beginning of time and respects no nation or race.  The claim to "peace
> loving and non-expanionism" must be viewed critically through the lens
> that China has been weak for the last 200 years and is only now gradually
> catching up with the Western powers.
> 
> David Pee