Opening of China and JapanEast Meets West Hmmm, at the barrel of a gun?

China Self-sufficiency of Chinese civilization For centuries, China sent more goods

and inventions to Europe than received Europeans, English particularly had

developed a taste for Chinese tea China uninterested in European wares

China Qing Dynasty: Chinese Imperial Gov’t

Carefully regulated trade Viewed Europeans as “sea barbarians” Not interested in pursuing commercial

exchange nor in diplomatic relations All foreign merchants must live in southern

city of Canton Sale of opium and export of silver forbidden

China By 1820s dominant English were flexing

their muscles Had found something the Chinese

wanted: opium Grown legally in British occupied India,

smuggled into China by fast ships/ bribed officials

More it grew, more greedy Brit merchants

China By 1836, British merchants in Canton

wanted independent British colony in China

These pressured British government to take decisive action

Opium Wars

China Qing decided opium trade must be

stamped out Ruining the people, stripping empire of its

silver (going to British merchants to pay for opium)

Started prosecution of Chinese drug dealers

China New envoy, Lin Tse-hsu sent to Canton

Orders foreign merchants to obey Chinese laws

British merchants refused Using troops from India, control of the

seas, British occupied several coastal cities, forcing China to surrender

China’s Opium Wars

Treaty of Nanking: 1842 Imperial gov’t forced to cede island of

Hong Kong to Britain forever Pay indemnity of $100 million Open up four large cities to foreign trade

with low tariffs

China after Treaty of Nanking

Opium trade flourished Hong Kong developed rapidly as Anglo-

Chinese enclave China continues receiving foreign

diplomats in Beijing (Peking), the imperial city

China after Treaty of Nanking

2nd round of foreign attack: 1856-1860 Beijing occupied by 17,000 British and

French troops Followed by another round of harsh

treaties Forced Chinese to accept trade and

investment on unfavorable terms for more cities

Japan Had even less use for Westerners Had sealed itself off since 1640 from all

European influences For the US: what about

Shipwrecked American sailors/provisioning of whaling ships and China traders sailing in Eastern Pacific?

No hope of trade or profit?

Japan Several American attempts proved futile 1853: Commodore Matthew Perry steamed into

Edo (now Tokyo) Bay Demanded diplomatic negotiations with

emperor Grave crisis!

Reluctantly signed treaty opening two ports and permitted trade

More treaties over next five years

Commodore Matthew Perry’s visit to Japan 1853

Commodore Matthew Perry arrives to meet the Shogun of Japan in 1853

Japan Following treaties gave more rights and

privileges to Western nations/merchants Japan was “opened” What British had done with war in China,

Americans had done with threat of war.

Treaty Ports of China Between 1842 and 1942, foreign power

emanated from treaty ports. Were tiny enclaves of foreign influence

and government located throughout much of coastal and eastern China.

A few in such isolated regions as Tibet, Mongolia and Sinkiang

Three primary types of Treaty Ports

Treaty Ports Settlements Concessions

Settlements and concessions were real enclaves of foreign control

Treaty Ports Generally applied to all cities, usually on

coastal or navigable waterways, that were open to foreign commerce.

Contained foreign administered Chinese Maritime Customs office.

No de jure foreign district although foreign residents tended to congregate together in one or two areas.

Treaty Ports After 1860, foreigners legally free to travel

anywhere in China. Direct commercial activities, residence and

property rights restricted to designated treaty ports/other specified cities open to foreign trade.

Missionaries had the right to live, own or lease property, and work anywhere in China.

Treaty Ports Located within treaty ports were the

foreign consulates, local offices of foreign business concerns, and other manifestations of Western and, later, Japanese influence

Settlements Usually designated districts under the

control of the resident foreign consuls Generally considered Chinese soil

governed by foreigners Separate municipalities from the

surrounding Chinese cities

Concessions “de jure” colonies of the nation leasing

the property. Legally, as leased foreign soil, Chinese

and nationals of other countries could be individually excluded from entry, residence, and property ownership.

Concessions Overwhelming population of nearly all

settlement and concession areas was Chinese.

Within the concessions and settlements foreign courts, foreign officered and staffed police forces and, in some instances, military formations provided security.

Concessions Larger settlements and concessions had

reliable public utilities, responsible government, and civic amenities such as race courses, upscale clubs, tidy public parks and well kept streets, not usually available in the surrounding Chinese cities.

Conclusion None of the settlements or concession areas

was large, ranging from 8.73 sq. miles to as small as 12 acres.

Largest was Shanghai: After "Opium War“ Britain forced China to open a concession in Shanghai and afterwards, all Western powers, America and Japanese, turned Shanghai into their heaven making it immune from Chinese governing

Safe Haven Treaty areas inadvertently provided a

semi-safe haven beyond the easy reach of central government authorities for revolutionary elements during the Qing Era and later to other dissidents as well as criminals.

Safe Haven After the Japanese occupation of

northern China, Chinese banks and customs authorities continued to function for a time in the foreign controlled areas generating revenue and doing business for the Chinese government beyond the reach of the Japanese.

Exposure to Western Liberalism

Treaty areas also served as places where Chinese youth became exposed to Western Liberal ideas

Missionary schools and universities

6 Foreign Powers Great Britain

Hong Kong 1842-1997 (Ceded and leased areas)

France Kwangchowan 1898-1946 (Leased area)

Germany Tsingtao 1898-1914 (Former leased area

occupied by Japan 1914 until 1922)

And….the U.S. Following the Boxer Revolt a permanent

U.S. guard maintained at the Peking Legation.

Fleet maintained by the U.S. Navy squadron of small ships and gunboats in the

Yangtze Valley from 1854 until 1942. Beginning in 1854 patrols along the Yangtze

showing flag, providing visible American presence.

6 Foreign Powers Russia

Port Arthur 1898-1905 (Leased area) Portugal

Macau 1557-1999 Japan

Taiwan 1895-1945 Port Arthur 1905-1945