In last class, we asked the question "Why did China launch the so-called Northeast Project?"
As I am writing a paper on this, I come up with this idea. We know that China's slogan right now is "peaceful rise." She wants to be not just a regional power, but also a global power; not just politically and economically, but also culturally. Thus, ancient cultural inheritance is important to China's desired image. Although China has a long history and huge land, incessant natural disasters and wars and all kinds of movements (like the Cultural Revolution) left China few cultural relics. That is why China needs "Koguryo" desperately now.
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In comment to that, why does China "need" Koguryo? China's history goes beyond that of Koguryo's and I'm sure there are more interesting events in ancient Chinese history than Koguryo. So I don't understand why Chinese scholars, who first agreed that Koguryo was part of Korean history, are now saying the opposite. Even looking at it from a political point-of-view, I don't see how Koguryo can give the Chinese any leverage in current affairs except for worsening relations between Korea and itself.
If China wants to emphasize its "peaceful rise", its Northeast Project seems to be against its slogan. Of course, there should be a number of different reasons and intentions over the project. Yet, if china tries to exploit its cultural or historical excuese, I, as a korean, feel more threatened by this than by military or economic capabilities.
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