Trending in China: Defense of China’s Centuries of Isolationist Policies Sparks Debate

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An academic paper has sparked controversy with its defense of the isolationist policies (闭关锁国) adopted during much of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1636-1912) dynasties, which have long been seen by historians as a major reason for China’s relative decline in national strength.

The government-sponsored study argued that the policies were designed to counter “aggressive Western colonial forces” and defend China’s “territorial and cultural integrity.”