‘The unequal treaties were the most important turning point in
China’s relationship with foreign powers in the years from 1839 to
1989.’ How far do you agree? (2021)
Textbook pages: Unequal treaties page 12
Page 32
Introduction
Japan
- Sino-Japanese war led to forced signing of unequal treaties
- Yuan Shikai, forced into signing the unequal treaties - Humiliation for China - turning
point for relations
- Hostile relations between the two until the rule of Deng - Sino-japanese relations
traditionally hostile, but japan recovered from western ‘unequal treaties’ quicker than
china - turning point
- Japanese control over Taiwan and Manchuria - sino-japanese war
USA
- Open door policy - Saved china from fragmentation and economy coming under full
western influence during scramble for concession
- China had to recognise the British control of Tibet and Russian control of outer
mongolia
- Bitter during Mao
↳ Verbal attacks on american imperialism
- Deng and the influence from western countries
- Start of the period (imperial) usa exploited china by signing agreements that were
similar to the unequal treaties
↳ E.g. Treaty of Wangxia 1845
- Relation went downhill when China became communist under Mao
↳ Presidential visits from Nixon helped in improving relations
USSR
- Somewhat hostile, especially under Mao when nuclear weapons of both countries
were faced towards each other = Relations reached lowest point
↳ China relied upon USSR for trade, as Mao only wanted to do this with a soviet
nation
↳ ‘Lean to one side’
- Exploitation of China - Outer Manchuria, stipped of economic resources
↳ Control of this region forced onto china - similar to unequal treaties
Britain
- Opium wars, shaped early interactions, British forced opium onto the Chinese =
unequal treaties and concessions
- Hong Kong returned to China, during the rule of Deng Xiaoping
↳ Had been gained by Britain through the unequal treaties
China’s relationship with foreign powers in the years from 1839 to
1989.’ How far do you agree? (2021)
Textbook pages: Unequal treaties page 12
Page 32
Introduction
Japan
- Sino-Japanese war led to forced signing of unequal treaties
- Yuan Shikai, forced into signing the unequal treaties - Humiliation for China - turning
point for relations
- Hostile relations between the two until the rule of Deng - Sino-japanese relations
traditionally hostile, but japan recovered from western ‘unequal treaties’ quicker than
china - turning point
- Japanese control over Taiwan and Manchuria - sino-japanese war
USA
- Open door policy - Saved china from fragmentation and economy coming under full
western influence during scramble for concession
- China had to recognise the British control of Tibet and Russian control of outer
mongolia
- Bitter during Mao
↳ Verbal attacks on american imperialism
- Deng and the influence from western countries
- Start of the period (imperial) usa exploited china by signing agreements that were
similar to the unequal treaties
↳ E.g. Treaty of Wangxia 1845
- Relation went downhill when China became communist under Mao
↳ Presidential visits from Nixon helped in improving relations
USSR
- Somewhat hostile, especially under Mao when nuclear weapons of both countries
were faced towards each other = Relations reached lowest point
↳ China relied upon USSR for trade, as Mao only wanted to do this with a soviet
nation
↳ ‘Lean to one side’
- Exploitation of China - Outer Manchuria, stipped of economic resources
↳ Control of this region forced onto china - similar to unequal treaties
Britain
- Opium wars, shaped early interactions, British forced opium onto the Chinese =
unequal treaties and concessions
- Hong Kong returned to China, during the rule of Deng Xiaoping
↳ Had been gained by Britain through the unequal treaties
