From humiliation to a Century of Justice

Observer

20-05-2025

Between 1842 and 1945, eight foreign powers conspired to strip China of its sovereignty, wealth and dignity in what the Chinese people call as the 'Century of Humiliation". Great Britain's Opium Wars forced millions into addiction and ceded Hong Kong; France imposed unequal treaties and seized territories in Guangxi and Guangdong; Japan's incursions into Taiwan, Manchuria, and coastal provinces inflicted decades of occupation; Russia pressed deep into Manchuria and the Amur region; Germany established a naval base at Qingdao after leasing Jiaozhou Bay; Austria-Hungary coerced minor concessions following the Siege of Beijing in 1900; Italy extracted extraterritorial rights and treaty ports; and the United States enforced the Open Door policy to guarantee its merchants unfettered access and immunity from local law.
These powers treated China as a quarry for opium, territory and raw materials, bringing an end to the Qing dynasty's power and prestige for good, plunging Chinese families into poverty, igniting uprisings and freezing China's development.
Today, that same arrogance and appetite for control resurfaces across the globe, especially against the so called Global South. In just the past weeks, the 47th President of the United States visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to sign almost RO 1.5 trillion in technology, energy and defence agreements. Yet while headlines glorified the size of these deals, parents in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are picking body parts of the dead children from the rubble, the hospitals of Gaza lie in ruins, humanitarian supplies are blocked, and Palestinians endure what countless observers describe as a campaign of collective punishment, starvation, bombardment and forced displacement. The contrast is stark: transactional diplomacy on one hand, and systemic violence on the other. These are not isolated tragedies but echoes of histories we refuse to learn from.
To break this cycle of impunity, we must adopt a 'Century of Justice' Roadmap: A concise, hard-edged framework to replace the old world's greed-driven systems with one that centres actual human dignity and sustainable cooperation. The first element is the Shared Ethical Code, a binding compact that defines non-negotiable standards for state and non-state actors alike. Under this code, no government may employ killer Artificial Intelligence - AI technology, collective punishment, use starvation as a weapon, or seize territory by force. An independent council of jurists and civil-society representatives would monitor compliance in real time. Violators would incur targeted sanctions, asset freezes and travel bans. This is not idealism; it is deterrence through accountability.
Second, we prepare Leaders of Conviction. From my own experience, elections become popularity contests driven by fear and factionalism instead of just common, interests. Under this pledge, every candidate, local, regional, or national commits to transparency in decision-making, to resolving disputes through dialogue rather than proxy wars, and to refusing to outsource violence to militias or private armies. Should any signatory authorise bombing of civilian infrastructure or the demolition of homes, that leader's regime automatically triggers diplomatic isolation and suspension from multilateral forums. Citizens and parliaments, empowered by this pledge, can hold their leaders to account even in emergencies.
Third, the roadmap establishes Justice Alliances - practical coalitions pairing governments with civil-society groups, faith communities and the private sector to confront war's aftermath. In Palestine, for instance, these alliances would comply with the UN resolutions and International Court of Justice - ICJ decisions to coordinate humanitarian corridors in Gaza and other Occupied Territories, document and prosecute war crimes and design long-term reconstruction plans. Funding would come from reparations levied on aggressor states and corporations that profit from conflict, creating a direct link between wrongdoing and responsibility for rebuilding. By working in coordinated task forces rather than scattered NGOs, resources are pooled, expertise shared and survivors supported with dignity.
Fourth, we must ratify Sustainability Pacts that bind producers and consumers in equitable resource stewardship. These legally enforceable agreements cover water, minerals, forests and carbon emissions, tying access and extraction rights to third-party audits and community-driven management. When a nation or corporation overreaches - clear-cutting forests, diverting rivers, or looting minerals, their concessions are voided and they incur reparations owed to affected populations. Such pacts transform mercenary resource grabs into partnerships that safeguard ecosystems and livelihoods.
This Century of Justice Roadmap is no utopian manifesto. As the Chinese people ended the Century of Humiliation to become a global superpower, so can the Global South, including the Arab and Muslim world. This is a call to action rooted in the hard lessons of history. Insist that your institution endorse the Shared Ethical Code. Demand that every public office candidate signs the Leaders of Conviction pledge. Join or support a Justice Alliance focused on the world's worst humanitarian crises. Pressure corporations and states to ratify Sustainability Pacts. We stand at crossroads: We can repeat the old script of power, profit and impunity, or we can forge a new century defined by justice, not greed. The choice is ours, and the time to act is now even if this takes a hundred years.