re: #98 freetoken

The Chinese would like to prove that hominids developed first in China, or at least contemporaneously with those in Africa. There are some non-scientific reasons behind the notions. One, it fosters China’s overwhelming pride in being Chinese (specifically, Han. Although historically speaking, the Mongols and Manchus had as much to do with the creation of modern China as the Han did, if not more so.) Second, the Chinese are, putting it bluntly, racist, especially toward Africans or anyone with darker skin —even fellow Chinese. Third, it compensates for what some perceive as a Chinese inferiority complex. Despite 5,000 years of cultural development, China still has yet to become top dog in the world, like the West did in a much shorter time, and China is still stinging from the Western domination of the 19th century and the Japanese occupation of the 20th. It would make every Chinese feel oh so much better if their scientists could show modern humans are in fact descendants of Chinese forebears.