Sinophobia (from Late Latin Sinae "Cina" + Greek φόβος, phobos, "fear") or anti-Chinese sentiment is the fear of or dislike of China, its people, overseas Chinese, or Chinese culture. It often targets Chinese minorities living outside of China and is complicated by the dilemma of immigration, development of national identity in neighbouring countries, disparity of wealth, fall of the past central tribute system and majority-minority relations. Its opposite is Sinophilia.

From 1866 to 1869, during Japan's Meiji Restoration, Japan was able to catch up with the progress of western nations. Meanwhile, China was sinking into a state of deep dysfunction. Although Yukichi Fukuzawa refused to recognize China as a bad friend in Datsu-A Ron, translated to "Argument for Leaving Asia", this was not the prevailing attitude and the discriminating consciousness to China remained.^{[citation needed]}

These Sinophobic sentiments fueled the Imperial soldiers' atrocities committed against the Chinese during World War II, of which the Nanking Massacre was an example. The Second Sino-Japanese War claimed the lives of more than 20 million Chinese, mostly civilian.^{[citation needed]}