The Roles Played by Western Countries in Shaping the Changes and Development of China Since the Mid-Nineteenth Century to 1978
Introduction
After a long isolationism period in the 19th century, China was under immense pressure from Western countries to open up to foreign relations and trade. Fueled by the Industrial Revolution that had sparked unprecedented levels of growth in Europe and the United States, there were huge gaps between China and the West (Valentini, 2012). China was significantly behind in terms of its military might and performance as well as technological advancement. At the time, China did not have the capacity to resist the Western countries, leading to an unequal agreement and treaties that forced China to open its ports as well as cities to foreigners for trade and other diplomatic relations. China’s response to the Western nations entry into Asia was different fro that of other countries like Japan. The former refused to yield to Western pressure, leading to reduced modernization and lesser interaction with the outside world. Tensions between the Chinese authorities and the British in the mid-nineteenth century led to the first of the Opium Wars, leading up to the Chinese defeat and the birth of unequal treaties (Garnaut, Song, & Fang, 2018). The treaties signed at the time were unfavorable for China, yet marked a period of increased interactions between the West and the East. Ultimately, Western countries played a vital role in bringing new ideas and technologies to China following the Industrial Revolution that shaped several changes and development of the Chinese landscape.
Introduction of New and Modern Means of Communication and Transportation
One of the main roles of the Western countries in China was the introduction of new and more modern means of communication and transportation. As the West aggressively sought trade with China, the latter benefited from the Industrial Revolution in Britain, Europe, and America. As a result, the opening up of the Chinese transport and communications infrastructure meant that more goods and products were available for trade. While this benefited the Chinese, the Western nations enjoyed the profitable trade even more. The result was an opening up of the country for trade, change in the way people communicated and moved from one space to the next, and the overall change in the transport and communication culture of the Chinese people (Zhao & Xie, 1992). The improvement of the transport and communication network to match the standards in the rest of the developed world was a crucial step to increase the interaction between China and the outside world between the mid-19th century and 1978.
Introduction of a Strong Export Market for China
Another major role of the Western countries in shaping the changes and development of China was the creation of a thriving export market. Previously, the Chinese government had confined all business relations to the frontier, especially with foreigners (Wright, 2000). However, the influence of the Western countries opened up export activities and other business opportunities after the 1842 treaty of Nanking ending the Opium War with Britain (Capen, 1912). The ceding of Hong Kong to the English and the opening up of five ports in Shanghai, Canton, Ningpo, Amoy, and Foochow saw a new era in the way China handled foreign relations in regard to business. Pressure and the changes that occurred at the time led to further opening up of China to foreigners and the increase in the number of Chinese ports on navigable rivers and the coast to increase export and foreign trade. The development of foreign trade remains to be one of the most significant roles that Western countries had on China, instituting changes that have defined the country up to date.
Integration of the Chinese Market to the Global Economy
The integration of the Chinese market into the 19th and 20th century world economy was also a significant role that was instituted by western countries between the mid-nineteenth century to the period before 1978. America and Britain were some of the most important trade partners that China had at the time. They introduced changes to the Chinese culture and society by providing alternative ways to do business, to transport goods, and brought about new ideologies applicable in the political and social arenas (Hsu, 1984). The new way of thinking was important in the introduction of modernization, and especially in ensuring that China was fit to operate its trade activities with the rest of the world. The nation was able to move from a confined system that controlled every movement and exchange from a frontier perspective to allow a more expansive global interaction to market Chinese products to the rest of the world. The establishment of China as a key trading partner for the West was largely due to the influence of British and American influences and trade. The role of the West was one that involve facilitation, not just for the products out of China but also for the foreign businesses headquartered in the new China.
Exerting Direct Pressure to Change the Chinese Commerce Scene
The role of Western countries in shaping the changes and development of China since the mid-nineteenth century to 1978 took any different channels, chief among those being the exertion of direct pressure on the Chinese government and forcing changes in the way foreigners and foreign trade were treated. China had for centuries remain a key trading partner for Western countries. However, it used a rigid system that was centrally controlled, minimizing the interaction of the people with foreigners and restricting trade to terms that were only beneficial to China (Capen, 1912). However, the Industrial Revolution in America and Europe left China at a great disadvantage. It could no longer resist the mighty power of European and American forces and their agendas. The efforts to open up China to foreign trade and commerce were realized during the mid-nineteenth century and the government was forced to adopt changes to the way it perceived and interacted with traders at all levels of commerce.
Immigration and Exchange of Ideals and Ideologies through Country-Level Interactions
The interaction between the Western countries and China also allowed movement between the East and the West. Specifically, the early 20th century saw a considerable number of students and diplomats from China visit the West and familiarize with Western ideals and institutions. On the return of these individuals back home, the ideas and ways of thinking influenced how they interacted with others, including political ideas, religious beliefs, cultural differences, social setups, and so on (Osterhammel, 1989). Chinese immigrants who settled in Europe and in America helped to spread the influence and knowledge to progressive classes back in China. Similarly, the introduction of Western publications and books in China that provided fact on western achievements, thoughts, and life shaped the way young people perceived western influence. The influence of Chinese people who resided or visited the West and become familiar with the western way of life was profound in China. It influenced changes in the way people perceived life, interactions, relations, politics, and individual ideals on progress and prosperity. The influence that primarily rocked the port cities brought about a wave of changes to the way the Chinese society perceived a number of things from the political, economic, social, cultural, and religious realms in relation to life and the interaction with others.
Religious Influence
The Chinese society was primarily social and political in its composition without a lot of religious power to influence ideology and social ideals. The introduction of Christian missionaries in China was able to reach the more remote parts of China, enabling rural China to get a glimpse of the outside world and to help in changing the inner workings of the Chinese society. Christianity, although limited by the dominant Buddhist and Confucius ideals, was able to achieve where government pressure and trade had failed. It brought about an embodiment of the Western way of life and its very foundation (Capen, 1912). Christianity achieved pervasive individual influence and laying of a foundation for new thinking. It enabled the Chinese locals to be more understanding of the western culture and to accept the ideals that western foreigners brought to China.
Overall Role of Western Countries in Changing and Developing China
The entry of Western countries into China marked a new era in how the country opened up, changed, and developed. While a majority of the changes were as a result of direct pressure exerted by British and other Western players, the aftermath was a new age not just for the locals but also for the country and its position in the world economy. The western countries, through their direct and indirect influence and participation, were able to modify the political and educational systems in China. The Christian missionaries were effective in changing the ethical, educational, and philanthropic ideals. The pressure from the western nations in 1854 changed the way trade was conducted and controlled in China, allowing foreign control and interception from externally-situated businesses. Foreigners gained a lot of power and influence as they were able to collect customs and to open up China to the rest of the world for global trade. Communication and transportation of goods were thoroughly overhauled by the introduction of postal services and custom control. Foreign traders led to the establishment of the first railway service in China in the 19th century opening up Shanghai and Wusung. The simple improvements to the way people moved, communicated, conducted businesses, and interacted with the government and other entities led to the new China. The period between the mid-nineteenth century up to 1978 was one rocked with numerous changes (Nield, 2015). The Chinese society changed significantly. While a majority of the changes were forced upon the Chinese society, several others were freely accepted as a result of the interactions between the foreigners and the people of China. The opening up of the country to trade and the free movement of people from China to the west created new ideals. A mix of Chinese culture and those of westerners led to the emergence of new ideologies in China, including political goodwill and societal changes. The results were a lot of changes to the way the Chinese economy was before, a change in the political realm, and the opening up of China to foreign influence.
Western competition and influence led to industrial changes in China and the development of various sectors and industries. The opening up of mines, the creation of large manufacturing plants, the rise of factories, the introduction of the railway, and other changes such as the introduction of a postal service in the country were all changes and developments introduced by western countries (Hou, 2013). The role of western countries was to transform China by introducing the benefits of the Industrial Revolution to the East. Western-trained Chinese people came back to the country with knowledge and experience that altered the traditional composition of the society, including the leadership and governance structures. The pressure of population in China was an issue that western ideals helped to manage through improving education, creating relative mobility, and allowing changes to the way people perceived trade. Essentially, western countries played a role that included upgrading the lifestyle of the Chinese.
Conclusion
The aim of this discussion was to showcase how western countries participated in shaping the changes and development of China since the mid-nineteenth century to 1978. China was very resistant to foreign and western entry and control. The result of this attitude was military and violent conflicts that changed the landscape of development and changes. Compared to other nations in the East such as Japan, China’s resistance policy saw the nation lag behind in development, an aspect that later saw it lose position to Japan and become a colony of the latter. The treaties signed at the time were unfavorable for China, yet marked a period of increased interactions between the West and the East. In the end, Western countries played a vital role in bringing new ideas and technologies to China following the Industrial Revolution that shaped several changes and development of the Chinese landscape. Western countries brought about new and modern means of communication and transportation, led the creation of a thriving export market, brought about the integration of the Chinese market into the 19th and 20th century world economy, and exerting direct pressure on the Chinese government and forcing changes in the way foreigners and foreign trade were treated. Western countries were able to influence the composition of the basic Chinese society, political realm, economic sector, the rise of industries, education, culture, religion, and various other areas of life.
References
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