From the US point of view, it was freeing knowledge from the hands of backwards aristocrats, who for too long had lived on the backs of the common classes. The

From the US point of view, it was freeing knowledge from the hands of backwards aristocrats, who for too long had lived on the backs of the common classes. The US felt it needed to be on par with Europe or risk having itself reconquered. From the Chinese point of view, it is freeing knowledge from imperialist powers that previously conspired to divide its country, drug its populace with opium, set up rape camps for the mere “comfort” their soldiers. It feels that it must be on par with these counties or risk having atrocity after atrocity revisited upon it. No one feels they are evil, and even when you “cheat” it’s always because you were cheated first.