Western Expansion

Triple intervention supposed vs real aims

Supposed: uphold chinese sovereignity
Actuality: Russia and European powers want concessions for easier control of china following Japans emergence

Germany gains…

Active involvement in the far east - benefit Germany, establish presence,
direct attention from Russia’s border and invaluable naval base 890s
1897 murder of two german catholics gave Germany Shadong provinces, Jiaozhou bay,
Germany had concessions for German railways and mines

France gains…

Joint action between Russia and France, Guangzhouwan 1897
Vietnam as a french protectorate in treaty of tianjin 1885

Russia gains

Sign agreement, bribing Chinese delegates when entering Lushun
Dec 1897 - lease port Arthur for 25 years as well as Trans Siberian railway
Forced Japan to give up Liadong peninsula 1895 for more money 

Britain gains…

Lease of Weihaiwai in SHadong, guarantees from imperial gov of economic interests - 99 yea rlease in new territories after 1896

Damage of triple intervention

Weak after Sino-Japanese war - only option was to submit - China as an observer in its own internal affairs
Affect Japan - feels robbed of Shadong province.
Government was castigated by Japanese nationalists for it’s submission to Germany/Russia/France - dominance of armed forces as they increasingly controlled the direction of Japanese foreign policy - Japan accelerated militarism - signed a treaty in 1902 to prevent this

Britain attitude towards China

Britain was the foremost expansionist power,
Wanted to maintain Chinese sovereignity in order for stable trade - should not overextend their influence in fear of uprisings or revolutions which would hinder trade
Robert Hart: Diplomat, desired a strong China to be friends w Britain

Open Door Policy

laissez-faire policy to assist openings of Chinese markets to foreign commerce, whilst retaining sovereignty

What ruined Britain/China sovereignty

Sabotaged by Japan’s expansionism, followed by the triple threat - not wanting to be outdone, demanded Weihaiwei and obtained rail and trade rights in Yangtze

New Territories

Hong Kong leaded to Britain in 1842 Nanjing treaty/1860 Tianjin treaty
Colony given as a new lease: increased in size tenfold, new territories = fertile land, serve as an industrial base for Hong Kong and housed surplus population leading to population growth and immigration

Economic effects of Western imperialism (MARXIST)

Marxist historians claim:
Silver drain
Import of cheap British cotton damaged Chinese handicraft industry
Unequal treaties allowed foreginers to control tariffs, reduced revenue and stopped vulnerable Chinese industry from developing
Treaty ports’ extraterritoriality meant Chinese enterprise couldnt compete
Indemnity payments crippled and encumbered the Imperial government
Concessions gave foreigners control over China’s heavy industrial areas and transport

Economic effects of Western imperialism (WESTERN - BENEFITS)

By 1930s 61% of cotton cloth still woven in China
Cotton industry moved from the poor peasant inefficient cottage industry to more advanced factories
1900 - tea trade was dominated by India (better plantin, more industrialised, cheapter taxes etc.)