RI Y3 RP Fall of Qing China Slides 2021

THE DECLINE AND FALL OF QING CHINA (1850S – 1912)

DECLINE AND FALL OF QING CHINA EXTERNAL THREAT • Refers to the encroachment of the western powers (imperialism) in East Asia. • Western powers adopted a hawkish attitude or foreign policy in their to extract benefits against China • Indirect and direct confrontation caused Qing China to agree to concession. The Treaty of Nanking (29 August 1842) • Ceded Hong Kong to Britain • Paid huge indemnity of 20 million silver dollars • Compensation included • 12 million for Britain’s war costs • 3 million to English merchants for their debts, and • 5 million as compensation for opium that Lin Zexu destroyed • Opening of 5 Chinese treaty ports (Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xiamen/Amoy, Ningbo, and Fuzhou) • Extraterritoriality for British citizens residing in these treaty ports, meaning that they were subject to British, not Chinese, laws • “Most favored nation” clause that any rights gained by other foreign countries would automatically apply to Great Britain

DECLINE AND FALL OF QING CHINA EXTERNAL THREAT Treaty of Tianjin, 1857–1859 • Following the First Opium War in the 1840s, the Western powers concluded a series of treaties with China in an effort to open its lucrative markets to Western trade. • In the 1850s, the United States and the European powers grew increasingly dissatisfied with both the terms of their treaties with China and the Qing Government’s failure to adhere to them. • The British forced the issue by attacking the Chinese port cities of Guangzhou and Tianjin in the Second Opium War. • Under the most-favored-nation clause contained in the existing treaties, all of the foreign powers operating in China were permitted to seek the same concessions of China that Great Britain achieved by force. • As a result, France, Russia, and the United States all signed treaties (list) with China at Tianjin in quick succession in 1858.

DECLINE AND FALL OF QING CHINA INTERNAL THREAT • Refers to attempts by local to rebel (list), resist or revolt against the incumbent regime. • These movements could escalate into armed confrontation with government. • The impact or scale of damage such confrontations varies depending of the degree of local support and the government’s ability to suppress them. THE TAIPING REBELLION Origin • The Taiping Rebellion was a revolt against the Qing dynasty in China, fought with religious conviction over regional economic conditions, and lasting from 1850 to 1864. • The Taiping forces were run as a cult-like group called the God Worshipping Society by self-proclaimed prophet Hong Xiuquan, and resulted in the rebels seizing the city of Nanjing for a decade. Outcome • The Taiping Rebellion eventually failed, however, and led to the deaths of more than 20 million people. • Estimates vary, but the Taiping Rebellion is believed to have claimed between 20 million and 70 million lives, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in human history.

DECLINE AND FALL OF QING CHINA EARLY ATTEMPTS AT REFORMS THE SELF-STRENGTHENING MOVEMENT • In the mid-19th century, the Qing state, after withstanding challenges, embarked upon a programmeof reform and strengthening the state. • This period referred to as the Tongzhi Restoration had two major policy components • Tongzhi was the reign title of the Emperor who reigned from 1861-1874. Two aspects of the policy were: 1) Restoration of Qing Power: • Restoring the power and glory of the state and by implication of Confucian Society. • The idea of restoration was not anything new. 2) Self-Strengthening Reforms: • This entailed a limited modernisation policy concerned initially with the creation of an armaments industry. • However, during the 1870's and 1880's modernisation was extended to areas of industry, communications and most importantly to education.

DECLINE AND FALL OF QING CHINA FIRST SINO-JAPANESE WAR A) State of Military-Naval Modernisation The Case of Japan • Before long, however, Great Britain was working on Japan to transform it into its “marcher-lord” in the Asia-Pacific region. • From 1872 until 1888, the British ran a program to train Japanese naval officers. • British naval officers taught at the Tokyo Naval College. • From 1870 to 1900, most Japanese battleships were built in British yards. The Case of China • China was also attempting to build up its military power. • It was purchasing warships from abroad under the Self-Strengthening program laid out by Li Hongchang, the main diplomat and modernizer at the Qing Court • But the training of Chinese sailors lagged behind, and the Japanese scored an easy naval victory over China in this first Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95.

DECLINE AND FALL OF QING CHINA FIRST SINO-JAPANESE WAR B) Cause of Conflict • Japan became intent on eliminating Chinese dominance in Asia, in order to establish their own control over Korea. • Korea was formally under Chinese suzerainty. • But Japan, was building up its military power, had a growing diplomatic presence on the peninsula. • A contrived “uprising” by Korean nationalists led to the pro-Japan faction at the Korean court “requesting” Japanese troops to help suppress the rebellion in 1894. • The movement of Japanese troops to Korea placed them in direct conflict with China. • This led to the outbreak of the war.

DECLINE AND FALL OF QING CHINA FIRST SINO-JAPANESE WAR C) Immediate Outcome 15 On April 17, 1895, the Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed. It provided for • Recognition of Korean independence and termination of tribute to China; • An indemnity of 200 million taels to Japan; • Cession of Taiwan, the Pescadores, and the Liaotung peninsula; • The opening of Chungking, Soochow, Hangchow, and Sha-shih as ports; and • The right of Japanese nationals to open factories and engage in industry and manufacturing in China.

DECLINE AND FALL OF QING CHINA FIRST SINO-JAPANESE WAR C) Reasons for Defeat Unified Modernised Japan • Japan had become a modern state after Meiji Restoration. • Reforms were wholesome – political, economic and military. • in which a nationalistic consciousness bonded the government and people into a unified body. A Disunited China • ln China, the government and people were separate entities. • Western observers described the war as one between Li Hung-chang’s Peiyang fleet and Huai army and Japan. • No unity of command, and no nationwide mobilisation in China. • Li Hung-chang had no the authority to decide policy matters or to control the ships and troops outside his Peiyang command and his Huai army. Hindrance to Modernisation • Corruption at court and in the Peiyang command doomed the Chinese effort from the start. • The dowager’s misuse of the naval funds for the construction of the Summer Palace. • The British adviser's recommendation before the war that China purchase two fast ships went unheeded. • Instead these two ships were purchased by Japan, and one of them, the Yoshino, established a splendid record in the naval battle.