How to evaluate the merits and demerits of aggression and the advantages of colonization?

The theory of meritorious service in colonial aggression is a fallacy that reverses right and wrong, and it is a typical robber logic. Can be considered from the following aspects:

(1) In the colonial history of colonialists, the manifestations of colonialism are different in different historical periods. In the early days of capitalism, the manifestations of colonialism were mostly naked violence, such as armed occupation, piracy, evil slave trade and overseas immigration. In the stage of free capitalism, the manifestations of colonialism have changed to a certain extent, mainly through the form of trade, turning underdeveloped countries, nationalities and regions into their own commodity dumping markets, raw material plundering places and sources of cheap labor and mercenaries.

After entering the stage of imperialism, in addition to continuing to adopt the above-mentioned means, capital export has also become the main form for colonialists to exploit these countries, nationalities and regions. Colonists control the political and economic lifeline of colonial or semi-colonial countries through political loans. Western colonial rule greatly promoted the development of western liberal capitalism.

It can be said that colonialism and capitalism are essentially linked. Exploitation and slavery of colonies or semi-colonies, that is, colonization of other countries, is a necessary condition for the survival and development of capitalism.

(2) Of course, we also admit that after the western colonial forces ruled the colony or semi-colony, in order to maximize their interests, they must transform the colony or semi-colony according to their appearances and intentions. In this process, they will inevitably spread capitalist civilization to these countries and regions, for example, introducing some capitalist production methods, management experience and science and technology into these colonial or semi-colonial countries and regions.

For another example, the foreign bourgeoisie has also set up some modern industries and facilities in order to dump goods and plunder raw materials, safeguard the rights and interests of aggression and meet the needs of reproduction. Undoubtedly, these will objectively have a certain positive impact on the development of these countries and regions. As Marx pointed out, colonialists acted as unconscious tools of history to some extent.

(3) However, we must not exaggerate the positive role of colonial rule, let alone regard colonists as angels spreading civilization, as sages leading history and as saviors, as mentioned above. Because, more essentially, the fundamental purpose of colonial rule by colonialists is by no means to turn these countries and regions into capitalist countries, nor to truly modernize them, or even to turn them from their own economies into their own economic competitors.

Not to mention all kinds of heinous atrocities committed by colonialists during their colonial plunder in these countries and regions, such as seizing a lot of wealth by means of war reparations, investment profits, fraudulent trade, etc., and all kinds of political, economic, diplomatic and military privileges they obtained by forcing these countries to conclude various treaties are like huge ropes that bind the oppressed nation to death.

This stifles the new political and economic vitality of these ethnic groups and shamelessly deprives these countries and regions of their right to subsistence and development. Therefore, the essence of colonialism is that capital imperialism, through military conquest, political control, economic plunder and cultural infiltration, occupies, enslaves and exploits weak nations, countries and backward areas, making them colonies or semi-colonies attached to themselves. This nature will inevitably bring disaster to the disadvantaged ethnic groups, countries and backward areas.

(4) No matter from the subjective motive or objective effect, colonial rule did not really realize the modernization of weak nations, countries and backward areas. The subjective purpose of colonialists coming to China, as criticized by Marx, is "driven by extremely despicable interests", and it is by no means to bring modern civilization to China to help China develop.