Regarding Gregory Clark's Nov. 15 article, "The fusillade against China": Bravo! At last, someone (Western) who is balanced in his opinions. Most Westerners don't remember or care to know about the Opium Wars, the war with eight foreign nations, the wars with Japan, Russia, etc.

Foreign nations even had their own self-ruled districts in China. And Taiwan -- in loads of suffering, death and humiliation -- lost to Japan, which was from the global village then! It was etched in most Chinese minds, especially those who ruled in Beijing. It's ironic, but who was it that helped the Chinese the most then? The Americans.

In a way the reactions of the Beijing government and Chinese people still reflect that period of their history. If Westerners keep bashing the Chinese, be careful of the xenophobic, nationalistic backlash of the Chinese. Let's see how peaceful the world will be then.

john y. chu