By Richard Halloran 02/27/2012

In August of 1842, the British government of Queen Victoria forced the Chinese government of the Emperor Daoquang to sign the Treaty of Nanking to acknowledge China’s defeat in the Opium War, to require China to pay a large indemnity, and to cede the port of Hong Kong to Britain.

That treaty and 172 ensuing pacts, agreements, and statements recorded what Chinese of all political stripes have called “The Century of Shame.” During that time, Western European nations, Russia, the U.S., and Japan all carved out “spheres of influence” that turned many Chinese cities and provinces into colonies of the foreign powers.

Today, that treasure trove of China’s tribulations, once stored away and ignored, has been resurrected and put on display by the government of the Republic of China on Taiwan. It can be seen on the Internet in Chinese and English on two web sites, http://www.npm.gov.tw/exh100/diplomatic/ and http://npmhost.npm.gov.tw/tts/npmkm2/10010.html.

In addition, a book, also in Chinese and English, carrying reproductions of all the documents has gone into its third printing. Earlier this month, an exhibition of the documents closed at the National Palace Museum, just north of Taipei, after being seen by 1.7 million people, including visitors from mainland China.

More: http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/02/27/15008-the-rising-east-treasure-trove-displayed-as-diplomatic-message/