After an editorial in a state-run nationalist tabloid, the demand became the top trending topic on Weibo.
On Sunday night, Global Times issued an editorial demanding that the museum return all Chinese cultural artefacts “free of charge.”
The Chinese government has thus far said nothing about this.
The BBC has requested comment from the British Museum but has not received a response.
Since almost 2,000 pieces were reported “missing, stolen, or damaged” two weeks ago, the museum has been under intense scrutiny.
When word of the incident first spread, an employee was terminated. Hartwig Fischer, who has led the organisation since its inception, announced his resignation last week.
Global Times said in a report that the prestigious institution has mishandled “cultural property belonging to other countries.”
An editorial writes that the incident has exposed “huge loopholes in the management and security of cultural objects in the British Museum,” causing the widespread belief that “foreign cultural objects are better protected in the British Museum” to collapse.
The British Museum is home to the West’s most extensive collection of ancient Chinese artefacts. Its website claims to showcase over 23,000 artefacts from ancient China all the way up to modern times. Among these are several works of art, prints, jade, bronzes, and ceramics. The replica of the scroll “Admonitions of the Instructress to the Court Ladies” is one of the most well-known examples of Chinese art reproduction.
With rising nationalism in China, this is not the first time internet users have demanded that the British Museum return objects.
However, more people have spoken forward about the alleged thefts after the editorial was published.
Until Monday noon local time, the hashtag “The British Museum please return Chinese antiquities” was the most popular search term on Weibo. Over 500,000,000 people have seen it.
“Return the objects to their original owner,” says a comment that has been liked over 32,000 times. Another prominent comment reads, “Now that the country is rich and the people are strong, it is time to have our treasures back home.”
Why don’t you come to the UK to see our valuables? A tweet with over 10,000 likes claims that “just shouting on Weibo domestically is just playing safe and shameless.”
The Global Times has been at the forefront of publishing aggressive editorials in English attacking the West in recent years as China’s relationship with the West has worsened.
It is unclear whether the calls will prompt any action from the Chinese authorities.
The demand for the repatriation of museum exhibits is not unique to China.
After hearing the news about the stolen items, many nations have said they no longer trust the British Museum with its priceless relics.
The Greek government has once again demanded the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles or the sculptures from the Parthenon.
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni of Greece was reported as saying that the Elgin Marbles’ disappearance “reinforces the permanent and just demand of our country for the definitive return” because of concerns over national security.
Those sorts of requests have been labelled “opportunistic” by Conservative MP and museum appointing body chairman Tim Loughton.
Countries should “rally around to help retrieve objects instead of trying to take advantage,” he told the BBC.
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