| Abstract | China Can Say No, by five previously unknown writers, took the United States to task for a litany of perceived sins against the Chinese people. Many critics saw this 1996 bestseller as little more than a sophomoric rant, but there is no denying it struck a popular chord in a nation that has grown deeply tired of American bullying. China Can Say No was an enormous commerical success, selling 150,000 copies. By the end of 1996, there were signs that the Chinese authorities were growing worried about some of the rhetoric being used. Once tacitly approved, China Can Say No was later reportedly criticized by the Communist Party's propaganda department for being irresponsible. It was also accused of giving overseas readers the impression that China's growing patriotism had become irrational. Some believe the anti-American storm will have blown through in a couple of months. |
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