Akin to the destruction of the Great Buddhas by the Taliban, although more analogous to burning the Louvre. It was very controversial in Britain at the time, as was the entire war.

It is interesting - and I don't think altogether negative - that the PRC government is allowing this important incident to be discussed publicly. I asked a tour guide about it when I visited the rebuilt palace in 2007 and she didn't even seem to know what I was talking about.