The Great Chinese Art Heist: Imperialism, Organized Crime, and the Hidden Story of China's Stolen Artistic Treasures by Ralph Pezzullo
Westerners had taken many artistic treasures from China during China's period of weakness. These days, China wants it back. What can't be received directly, art has often suddenly disappeared. It has appeared that China's wealthy (possibly with consent of the government) have employed criminal gangs to steal Chinese treasures valuable to them.
There are various conflicting values in play. Should people return appropriated items? Why does it seem that just the ones in power have artifacts returned? What if the artifacts have played a role in the culture that currently possesses them, even if they did not create them? Is it ok to steal back what was stolen? The book does not make many judgements.
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