China

John LeeFlorida State University

Department of Political ScienceSpring 2011

A Growing China

Will conflict emerge?

• Realist view: conflict is inevitable. Why?

– China/US may be revisionist states?

• Revisionist state – One that seeks to alter status quo.

• Status Quo state – One that is content with the status quo.

Is Peace Possible?

• China could have peaceful intentions.

• China might focus on defensive weapons.

• China is peaceful now – why would this change?

Hegemony

• Hegemony – The amount of influence a state has.

• Hegemon – Most influential state.

• Mearsheimer says states seek regional hegemony…why?

Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)

• Established by minority Manren (Manchu men).

– Majority of China is Han.

• Manchus were tribal people from Mongolia.

• Under dynasty Manchus are segregated from Han and only minimal interaction occurs.

Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)

• Government Structure:

– Emporer

– Grand Council & Grand Secretariat

– 18 Provinces led by governors

• Peasants

– 80% of population

– Famine, Uprisings, No upward mobility.

Coming Out of Isolation (1800)

• Before 1800…

– Restrictions on trade…although some occurs regionally.

– Outsiders viewed as barbarians.

• Strict requirements on foreigners living in China and Chinese living in other countries.

Trade Emerges with West

• Guangzhou (Canton) is the only port city open to Western trades.

• Guangzhou Trade system:– Several leaders in charge of province, some of which

appoint the Cohong.

– Cohong is a group of merchants with monopoly over trade in port cities.

– Foreign merchants cannot communicate directly with leaders but must send messages through Cohong.

• Western acceptance of this system reifies Chinese belief in traditional thought.

Trade With West

• Trade grows dramatically.

– China exports 400,000 lbs of tea to UK in 1725. This grows to 26 million lbs by 1808.

• Westerners grow tired of lack of tariff schedule.

→ They were often asked for bribes, or required to pay exorbitant amounts of money.

Trade With West

• Initially China wants no imports from West so payments must be made in gold, silver, and copper.

• Eventually India-China trade emerges whereby British merchants exchange raw materials (e.g cotton and opium) from India for Chinese exports.

Trade With West

• British work with system since trade is run through East India Company.

• Americans do not since traders do not fall under the auspices of one monopoly.

• Eventually, East India Company ends and British send official representative to China.

• Stage is set for confrontation since “official representative” less likely to tolerate Chinese practices.

Opening trade Up

• British send diplomatic missions to China (1793/1816) seeking concessions.

– Only concession is that representative gets to bow before son of heaven on bended knee not kowtow.

Opening trade Up

• “Our dynasty's majestic virtue has penetrated unto every country under Heaven, and Kings of all nations have offered their costly tribute by land and sea. As your Ambassador can see for himself we possess all things. I set no value on objects strange or ingenious, and have no use for your country’s manufactures.”

– Emporer Qian-Long.

Opening trade Up

• “The Empire of China is an old, crazy first rate Man of War …She may, perhaps, not sink outright; she may drift sometime as a wreck, and then will be dashed to pieces on the shore; but she can never be rebuilt on the old bottom.”

• ~British diplomat.

Napier Fizzle

• British send Napier to become head of British trade in Canton.

• Napier sends letter to viceroy; letter is refused.

• Napier eventually gets annoyed and circulates proclamation to locals urging the replacement of the viceroy.

• Viceroy eliminates trade with Brittain.

Napier Fizzle

• Napier orders British naval ships to secure port.

• British merchants do not like this because it negatively impacts trade.

• British never wanted this to happen.

• Eventually Napier retires and the fizzle ends.

First Opium War

• 1836 – Charles Elliot is put in Napier’s old post.

– Given military resources to influence Chinese decision-making

• Elliot tries to open up opium trade, but Chinese refuse.

• 1839 – Chinese officials establish rules requiring found opium to be burnt.

First Opium War

• War begins in 1840’s.

• British move up coast, destroy defenses.

• Compromise proposed, but Britain still wants to prove that they are dominant.

– British destroy Chinese southern fleet, capture Canton, and begin to isolate Beijing.

• Chinese emperor realizes that loss is imminent and concedes.

Treaty of Nanjing (1842)

1. England gets Hong Kong.

2. 21 million Mexican silver dollars to England.

3. Numerous ports opened.

4. Cohong removed, tariff established.

5. British Officials can communicate directly with Chinese Officials.

6. Most Favored Nation (MFN) status – This treaty is between British and China. If Chinese grant any better concession to another state the British also receive this treatment.

→ Treaty to be revised in 12 years.

War Returns

• By 1856 several trends emerge that make war likely.

1. Chinese imperial Commissioner begins to treat West as Barbarians again with delay tactics.

2. Chinese refuse revisions regarding Treaty of Nanjing.

• US/France/UK want China to legalize opium trade, embassies in Beijing, and free trade throughout country.

Second Opium War (1857-1860)

• French/British send forces to ensure that Treaty of Nanjing is renegotiated.

• Chinese suffer major defeats and Emperor is forced to surrender to all demands.

Anglo-Chinese Treaty (1858)

1. Foreign powers have rights to delegates in Beijing – they do not have to perform the kowtow.

2. 10 new ports are opened.

3. Foreigners can travel anywhere and Chinese have to protect missionaries.

4. Extraterritoriality – Foreign subjects do not fall under Chinese jurisdiction.

5. Four million taels of silver.

Second Opium War

• After Anglo-Chinese Treaty (1858) Chinese undertake various actions to “reassert themselves.”

• They rearm their military establishments at Dagu port and block river such that foreigners cannot go upstream easily.

• British forces try to clear river and are bombarded + destroyed. Dagu Debacle.

Second Opium War

• British teach Emperor lesson by burning summer home.

• The British Convention

1. Adds more ports.

2. Doubles payments owed by Chinese to foreigners.

3. British receive Kowloon peninsula.