Topic 10 - The External Factor Flashcards
How could one justify the rise of nationalism in the the early 20th century?
Westerners had special privileges because of discriminatory policies
In what ways were foreigners present in China?
Fuerwerker, 2005:
- Armed forces
- Treaty ports
- Missionaries
- Public finance: Loans to Chinese governments
- Investment in infrastructure (e.g. railroads)
Fuerwerker implies that the impact of westerners in China was significant but why could this not be true?
- Westerners never attempted a full-scale invasion of China (until Japan’s invasion of 1937)
- Westerners only really had economic and financial power in treaty ports
- Foreign investment as a percentage of GDP wasn’t that large
- Modern industry or transport established by Westerners did not always necessarily destroy their traditional counterpart but often complemented them
What was Murphey’s analogy for Western Impact and Chinese response?
“… a fly could ultimately irritate its host enough to provoke a violent counter-reaction, but not to change the elephant’s basic nature”
How did westerners affect China institutionally?
- They eroded the monopoly control of central political power in Qing China
What could be used to argue that traditional Chinese commercial and business activities were built upon patronage?
Guilds or commercial organisation acquired the right to operate business often with monopoly privileges in exchange for a fixed tax quota (Motono, 2000)
Detail the fall of the traditional commercial model.
- The Western imposition of a flat transit taxes for their goods through the inland led to an erosion of traditional commercial groups who relied on the payment of native transit taxes as a means to acquire monopoly privileges
- A pattern emerges that the Chinese merchants began to take advantage of these “Western privileges” through false registration of their produce as destined for export (rather than domestic use), flying their ships (or junks) in Western flags, investing their capital in Western business or simply registering their business under Western names
- These practices became the source of conflicts both at the government and business level
What did the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1896 mean for the traditional commercial model?
It allowed foreign business the right to manufacture in the treaty ports. Hence, the Qing had to grant broader property rights protection for all Chinese businesses.
How did the International Settlement in Shanghai enhance the value of real estate in Shanghai?
- It protected property rights with low and standardised tax rates
- It invested in public goods such as roads and electric power
What happened in the International Settlement after 1911?
It took over legal jurisdiction over the Chinese residents
What is the similarity and difference between the Chinese City Council and the International Settlement?
The Chinese City Council was modelled after the IS but was suspended in 1914 by the Beijing government. But the IS expanded under the protection of Western treaties and Western gunboats.
What was the most stable source of revenue for the government in early 20th century China?
Maritime Customs revenue
Why was Maritime Customs revenue sparked from local warlords?
Because it was controlled by westerners
How did the Chinese government us Maritime Customs revenue?
They used it as the security for foreign loans used to pay off Chinese government expenditures or war indemnities
Why was the use of Maritime Customs limited for the Chinese government?
Customs revenue was collected by a foreign staffed agency and was deposited into foreign banks in treaty ports. Only the residuals were remitted to the Central government.
