Commentary Scholars and enthusiasts of Chinese history are familiar with the term “century of humiliation,” referring to the long chain of crises the country suffered during its entry into the modern era starting in the mid-19th century. From the Opium Wars waged and lost against Britain and France, to the multimillion deaths of the Taiping rebellion and Japanese invasion in World War II, China never seemed to catch a break. Imperial rule gave way to the Republic of China, which, strained by the multitude of crises facing it, was eventually driven off the Asian mainland by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Today, the “century of humiliation” remains a central motif in the CCP’s propaganda justifying its leadership of—and absolute rule over—the Chinese nation. As the Party celebrates the 100th year since its founding, the narrative presented is that the doctrines of Marx, Lenin, Mao, and other communist leaders allowed China …