The wonderful Peter Yang
Why Europe was able to surpass China during the 19th century
June 2nd 2012 22:47
While many Europeans believe the key factor that leads to Europe surpassing China during the 19th century, is western technology. The truth is that, technology has little to do with anything. Instead, the main cost was due to the corruption within Chinese government in the time. Overall during the 19th century, Europe's technological advantage over China was short live, proven by, the Sino-French War, where the French suffer one of their most humiliating defeats, against the Chinese in 1858, only 18 years after the British defeated the Chinese in the Opium war. The French was forced to return most of French colony in China, back to the Chinese. The defeat, almost put an end to all future attack on China during the colonial age, believing that China has reemerge as the supreme power of the world.
Prior to twenty century, Chinese society generally consider Europeans as barbarians, the same way Rome once see the Germans and French and British as savages, also. Mainly due to the fact that China's culture and ideology has fully modernized to modern 21st century standard, since as far back as history can recorded, which is at least 4000 years ago, where Europe during that time, wasn't exactly there, yet. For example, while many Western country was still having slaves, well into the 19th century, China has abolish slavery since 1500 years ago. The constant warfare amount European country, due to insignificant reasons, such as different religion or because the British and Portuguese wanted to dominated the sea, is been frowned upon and refer to as meaningless war, by the Chinese. The Chinese on the other hand, was already operating their military on modern principle, which believe that invading other country is unethical and a country should only fight war in self defense, an ideology that does not exist in most western countries, until after WW1, it is also why, through out history, there was never such thing call a Chinese Empire or story of Chinese invading foreign nations. Western believe of divine right of the King and the nation is rightfully the property of the King and the people are merely the King's slavery property, is in significant conflict with Chinese's believe that the nation is rightfully the property of the people and the King and all ruling class must act in respect to that and rule in public interest, a philosophy that was the guiding principle of China's govern, since the first century. All of these, leads the Chinese to view the Europeans as mere savages.
However, the modernized value played a vital role in regards to why China could have been the most powerful nation throughout most of human history.
The fact that the Chinese see the west as savages, leads the Chinese to see the west from a snobby point of view.
Prior to 19th century, first encounter Portuguese
The first encounter between Chinese and the west was the Portuguese, during the 16th century, year 1511, where Portuguese finally reached China and paid tribute to the Chinese Emperor for Chinese protection and later on wards so the Chinese would lease the Portuguese, Marco as a base of commercial operation in Asia, where in exchange the Portuguese would give China a handsome yearly tribute. The first war China has with Europe was also with Portuguese. The first war was when Portuguese troops try to invade Malaysia and successfully defeated Malaysia forces. During the old Asia, China play a role in Asia, similar to the role US played in the modern world. The invasion of Malaysia, caused immediate Chinese invasion of all Portuguese colony in Asia and defeated the Portuguese easily. Portuguese nobles, officials and generals, in Asia, was been found guilty of war crime by the Chinese, for invading Malaysia and was sentence to torture and then execution by the Chinese. The execution result in Portuguese attempt to invade China and move in from China's Guangzhou province, but the Portuguese army was quickly been defeated by the Guangzhou riot police, before the Chinese army, even arrived. Where the Guangzhou police arrested multiple Portuguese soldiers and killed any other soldiers that refuse arrest. The two invasion leads the Chinese Emperor to take extreme measure and exile all Portuguese in China back to Marco and past law saying no Portugese are allow to ever set foot on the soil of any Asian nations other then Marco. The war further reinforce Chinese believe for European to be savages and the restriction treatment towards Europeans continue, until China was defeated by the British in the Opium war in 1840. The British was the first Western nation in the world to ever defeat China.
During 1522 the Portuguese King once again attempt to invade Asia with a fleet of Portuguese navy ships. However, the Portuguese was quickly intercept by the Chinese navy and defeated. The commander of the Portuguese fleet was also been sentenced by the Chinese for war crime, for the invasion of Malaysia and for the mass murder of Muslims. The Chinese handed him to the Muslims, for public torture and then execution, his troops suffer the same fate. The Chinese Emperor then learn, Portuguese government have been secretly capturing Chinese woman and selling them to the sex trade. This anger the Emperor of China and threaten to invade Portuguese itself, if Portuguese continue to refuse to behave and return all Chinese sex slave, back to China, a move that was been welcome by the British, who want to dominate the sea over Portuguese. While China has proven itself to be the most powerful navy of its time, China has no intention of fighting for dominate in the sea with British and Portuguese, but the Chinese would make any nation in the world that conduct invasion in Asia pay dearly.
The Emperor of China, officially declare the Portuguese navy in Asia, to be pirates and order for the Chinese navy to destroy all Portuguese navy in Asia. The experience with Portuguese further reinforced China's believe for European to be noting other then savages, troublemakers and gangsters.
News, how elite Portuguese army and navy, can be defeated even by Chinese riot police and arrested by Chinese riot police, like common criminals, leads the European power to recognize the Chinese as the dominate power of the world and proclaim that in Asia, everybody have to play according to China's rule, which is unlike in Europe, in Asia, nobody is allow to invade anyone or the Chinese will punish the invaders. The constant warfare, invasion and fight to achieve dominance that the Europeans were doing in Europe and America colony, are behavior they can not conduct in Asia, due to China's influence, over the region, whom took up the role of an all powerful guardian god.
The King of Portuguese soon gave in to the Chinese's demand and seize all military campaign in Asia and return all Chinese sex slave in Europe back to China.
In this instant China live up to its reputation in European myth that origin from the 13th century, that China is the most powerful nation in the world and the myth of believing the Emperor of China is god himself and the people of China are the angels.
The constant warfare with Portuguese, soon leads to Chinese to believe, instead of trying to defeat them, it might be wiser to rehabilitate them, through using Consciousnesses ideology and retook governing of Marco, but still allowing Portuguese to live there. The success of the project leads to many Portuguese living in Asia to have adopt eastern value. However, the experience with Portuguese only further reinforce Chinese believe for the west to be savages that need to be civilized.
During the early 19th century (1800) Portuguese decided to re attempt to pull the same crap the west was pulling in Europe in Asia again, sending a navel fleet to operate around China's Ningbo province. Once again, the Emperor of China, categorized the Portuguese navy fleet as pirates. Ningbo province's governor send out Ningbo police and bounty hunters to destroy the Portuguese fleet, the Chinese police destroyed the Portuguese navy and arrested the sailors, killing 40 Portuguese sailors that refuse arrest. Three Chinese police officers, including one British man who was serving in the Chinese police force, died. Like before, the Chinese torture and executed the commander of the Portuguese fleet, to set an example, to the west, of what would happen to people that try to invade any country in Asia.
Prior two 19th century, 2nd encounter Dutch and Spanish
The Dutch and Spanish is the next to arrived in Asia, during the 17th century, however, they managed to find loop holes in China's anti invasion law and colonize, without causing China to attack them. That is, instead of invading other countries, the Dutch and Spanish search for land, who have no inhabitants and took the island Taiwan, which in that time was not the property of any nation. The Dutch try to attack the Portuguese, believing that the Chinese would not come to their aid. The Dutch was wrong, Chinese troops defeated the Dutch invading Marco and once again they torture and executed the commander of the Dutch fleet, in public, setting an example saying the crime of invasion would not go unpunished by the Chinese, who fancy themselves and the reincarnation of the gods. As for the rest of the Dutch soldiers who escape the fate of been executed, the Chinese handed them over to the Portuguese.
The Spanish choose to play by China's book, however, during the mid eighteen century, where China was in the middle of a civil war, the Spanish took the opportunity to invade Dutch colonies in Asia, believing the Chinese would be too busy, to pay any attention to them. The Spanish was right and quickly defeated the Dutch forces in Taiwan. The civil war in China leads to the defeat of the original Ming government of China and the victors established the new Qing government of China. While China ignored Spain during the civil war, once the war is over, Spain also faced China's wrath for conducting invasions in Asia. Changon Zhan, a General of the Ming government, still wanted to fight against the new Qing government and restore the Ming government and need a new base of operation. Zhan quickly used Spain's invasion of Dutch territory as an excuse and invaded the Spain colonized Taiwan and defeated them, in ten days and appointed himself the Emperor of Taiwan. Zhan brought along a whole bunch of Chinese who is not willing to live under the Qing's rule. Changon Zhan then have Taiwan's original Spanish ruling class arrested and have all Spanish troops in Taiwan that was responsible for invading Dutch territory arrested too and seize their asset to compensate the Dutch family's lost within the Spanish invasion. The Spain and the Dutch was given a choice to either stay and live in Taiwan under Changon Zhan's rule or to return to Europe. However, to stay in Taiwan, mean they must learn to peacefully co exist with the Chinese, Dutch and Spanish or otherwise suffer exile, by the government. Surprisingly, most Dutch and Spanish civilian prefer life under the rule of an Asian Emperor and choose to stay.
Prior to 19th century China defeated Russia
During the 17th century, Russia move south to China's northern territory, which was not been used and set up govern there, not knowing the Chines already proclaim those land as their territory. The result is throughout the next 50 years there was a series of wars between Russia and China, along China's southern boarder and Russia's northern boarder (1643~1689). Russia suffered heavy lost, including having entire armies been wiped out by the Chinese army, but was able to defeat the regional Chinese police force, without problem. Russian commanders that was been captured by the Chinese, was been brought back to China and executed. Chinese lost was minimum. In 1689 Russia surrendered. Because the boarder between China and Russia has been unclear in the past, China agree to go to the diplomat table and renegotiate a clear borderline with Russia, promising the Russians to be fair and hold up their end of the bargain, to the best of their ability
Europe catching up and surpassing China during the 19th century part 1
The war between Taiwan and China lasted for 50 years, until Taiwan navy was finally defeated by the Chinese. Taiwan became a state under the Qing government rule, the previous Prime Minister of Taiwan, was appointed as governor.
By this time, the European nation have all learn to play by China's rule, while operating in Asia, rule number 1, nobody invade anybody, while in Asia, rule number 2, no slave trade in Asia, 3. the government must work in public interest and put the interest of the people ahead of the interest of the king, if anybody violate any of these rules, the Chinese would punish them seriously. Everybody fear the wrath of China, including the British whose navy could still be easily crushed by the Chinese without breaking a sweat.
However, during this era two things happened. The first thing that happened between1722~1735, where Emperor Qiánlóng took offense by the fact that the Western ambassador to China refuse to show his respect to China's Emperor according to China's custom, which is to get down on your knee and bow to the Emperor three times, having your head touch the ground every time and sealed off four of the five ports that allows Europe to trade with China. In addition because China was still way more powerful then Europe during that time, Qianlong dismissed all European goods been sold to China as garbage, frequently without even looking at the goods and seize trade with Europe. This policy continue throughout the era of the following two Chinese Emperor Jiaqìng (1796~1820) and Emperor Dàoguong. (1820~1850)
This result in a situation where all trade between China and the west was running on a one way stream. The western world was continuing to learn new Chinese skills and knowledge and adapting it to their own and creating new things. However, because China refuse to buy western goods, these new technology the west developed was not been sold back to China. It soon leads to a situation where the west caught up with China on many arena and eventually even surpassed China.
Also during Emperor Daoguang's Era something else happened, the Imperial court, which is a critical part of China's Qing government became corrupted. The police and regional governor, participate in illegal activities openly, taking bribes and allow smuggling opium into China, sometime use their power to dominate China's illegal drug trafficking market, by killing their opponents. Government officials are frequently incompetent, arrogance and use their power abusively. Some officials even exercise racial prejudice towards European settlers (due to the reputation of Europe to be savages), who move to China hoping to find a better life, angering the Chinese public, whom believe racial prejudice to be "unacceptable behavior for a Chinese gentlemen." The corruption also mean, the Emperor receive false information. Because China is a very large nation, Emperors' of the Qing dynasty rely on his adviser to rule the nation. In term of running the nation, the Emperor is only responsible for the administration aspect of things, and leave the technical aspect of running China to his advisers. The Emperor get all of his information and understanding towards what is happening in his country, base on his advisers and regional government official's report and make his decisions base on it. Emperor Dauguang's advisers started presenting the Emperor with all fake report, that work to their advantage, as a result the Emperor lost touch with his people and has a false impression of what the situation in China was like.
All of these is destine to leads to the downfall of China.
First time China lost a war to the west 1840 Opium war China vs British
The Opium war mark the end of an era, of the almighty China and China's role as the defender of peace and justice throughout Asia.
During Emperor Daoguang era the problem with Opium in China has been increasing. Opium was originally been export to China, by the British to serve the purpose of medical use, but Chinese business man, whom the British trade with sold these drugs for recreational use. The result is the increase number of people addicted to this drug, with increase demand in Opium, British businessman grow even more Opium to be sold to China, with no regards of how the product is been used.
Emperor Daoguang decided to ban the usage of Opium in China all together and send his adviser Ling to get the job done. Ling's consider all white people to be the enemy of China and aimed all of his guns at the British businessman, locking them in their home, giving them no food and water, until they hand over all of their opium for the government to be destroy and chopping off the head of Chinese businessman who sell opium. Ling's technique was proven ineffective and have humanitarianism issues that was frowned upon. The constant attack on British citizen living in China, under Ling's order, finally leads the British to call Britain for help.
During that time, Europe believe China is still the most superior military in the world and the past experience of been defeated by China still haunts them. After all, it was less then 40 years ago, where the entire Portuguese navy was been defeated by the Chinese and not been defeated by Chinese navy, but regional Chinese state police.
British parliament debated for months about invading China, many believe British would be crushed by the Chinese, only few have confident in British's navel strength to be of match against the Chinese navy. In the end, the only MP who managed to convince the parliament to invade, is a Chinese educated British MP, whom believe China has violated the same principle it once uphold and while China traditionally defend the world against "tyranny" and is a defender of peace and human right, China are now criminal of the very same thing, they once defend and it is now British's turn to teach China a lesson, the same lesson that the Chinese have taught every single nation who try to conduct invade another, any nation that conduct mass murder and rulers that conduct tyranny, in the past. And he started persuade the British parliament to send troops to China. Finally the proposal to invade China won with a land slide, within British's parliament and a terrified British navy set sail for China, many of the soldiers were terrified of fighting against the Chinese, as China still has the reputation of been the most powerful nation in the world and how they ruthlessly punish any body who conduct invasions in Asia.
When the British fleet reach China and meet the Chinese navy fleet, the British was terrified. They fear engaging the Chinese in combat, thinking the Chinese would destroy the British forces, in a split second. So, instead the British commander try to engage the Chinese commander in diplomacy instead, hoping it would spare his soldiers' life. But the problem is that in China, a white flag means we are attacking you and in Britain a red flag means attack. The flag of the Chinese navy was red, so when the British saw the red flag, they thought the Chinese were attacking and when the Chinese saw the British waving a white flag at them, the Chinese thought the British was attacking, so the Chinese and British navy opened fire. The British navy whom was expecting to be slaughtered by the Chinese navy, in less then a split second, found them self defeating the Chinese navy easily, much to the British's surprise. Turns out after almost 100 years of one way trade and the corruption of the existing Chinese government, has finally meant the once mighty China to have collapsed. The British army landed on shore and fought a series of successful battle against the Chinese. The British won the opium war. The success of this war was a joyful occasion in Britain. The British done what everybody thought was impossible, they defeated the Chinese, in a swift victory. The mighty China have finally fall and Britain is taking China's place, as the world power, now Britain can really call themselves the dominate master of the sea. The victory of the opium war leads Britain to take Hong Kong, from China.
The Chinese civil war the Britain and China Qing government vs China Taiping government
This humiliating defeat soon leads China to believe it needs to change. The Chinese people is already angry about the now corrupt Qing government and this humiliating defeat against the British enraged the people even more and leads to the people uprising to over throw the Qing government and a new government call Taiping government meaning "heavenly peace" was formed, the Qing government who was seriously defeated, turn to the British for help. The British backed the Qing, the war last for 14 years, until the the Qing government finally won. (1850~1864)
The war was total war in China.
The second opium war
British attack China to force China to legalize the selling of opium in China. The Chinese suffered another massive defeat against the British, France and Russia. This war also happen during the time where the Qing government and Taiping government was still fighting their civil war. (1856~1860)
Sino-French war. The french was defeated
The French attempt to invade Vietnam, was interfere by the Chinese. As one of China's most loyal followers, the Chinese government refuse to Vietnam to fall to French control. The increasing trade between China and Europe means, the Chinese military at this stage has completely modernized. The French try to conduct negotiation with the Chinese to allow French invasion of Vietnam, the Chinese disallow, the result is that another war broke out between the French and the Chinese, over the sovereignty of Vietnam the war lasted from 1884~1885
French navy was been defeated by the Chinese at the coast of Taiwan. French army was been defeated at Vietnam. French continue to send troops to fight against the Chinese, but continue to suffer defeat, in the end the French and the Chinese return to the diplomacy table, where the French still managed to get most of what they want within diplomacy.
This is once again cost by corruption as the then corrupt Cixi, wanted to secure her power and fear the continue war might destabilize it.
Cixi is the Emperor's step mother, she was more interest in securing her power then the future of China. To secure her power, she put restraints on China's progress. China would have caught up with the western world and resume its position as world's most powerful country, by that stage, if it wasn't for her, evident by the Sino-French war, where the French was humiliated in defeat.
The French vs China war, almost ended the colonial era in China, with many people suspecting China is returning to its former glory.
Sino-Japanese war 1894~1895
A humiliating defeat on the Chinese part, despite the fact the Chinese has a more advance navy, they lost to the Japanese.
The boxer rebellion 1989~1901
The corrupt Empress Cixi used a group known as the boxers to attack the western forces in China, the result is another massive defeat for the Chinese.
However, the defeat of China was not on the battle field, but once again for Cixi to secure her power. Chinese forces wasn't defeated yet, they merely fall back from Bejin and Tajin to regroup and await to attack. In the initial battle the Chinese successfully push the western powers out of Chinese soil, where the Europeans fall back to sea and the remaining Western forces in China was been cut off and has no supplies. But reinforcement from the west allows the Europeans to push the Chinese back, therefore the Chinese generals decided to first fall back out of Bejin, where the Western power in Bejin, haven't been starve out of the war yet. Once the troops reground they would be able to push the Western powers back to the sea again.
After the Qing denisty
Ten years after the box rebelion, the people of China had more then enough and over throw the Qing government and form the Republic government, known as Republic of China. The end of Cixi rule and corruption of the Qing government bring the western colonization of China to an immediate end. During WW1, China allied itself with the British and French and defeated all German forces in China and pushed the Russians out of China too. However, the instability of the time, mean China soon split into two, northern China rule by the military, south China rule by the democratic republic government. Soon follow the defeat of the northern warlords China faced WW2 against Japan. China and Russia soon form an alliance, but Russia prove themselves as a weak allied, but China was able to save Russia by forcing Japan to focus most of its attention to it. Russia used this opportunity to sign a none aggression pack with Japan and abandon China, to deal with japan along. The defeat in WW2, mean Japan must return all Japanese colony to China. After WW2, China faced communist treat, still exhausted after fight two wars straight, the democratic government no longer has the strength to fight another war and withdraw to islands that are Chinese territory, along China's east coast and hold off the communist there. They established Taiwan's Taipei city as the new capital of China. Today, while legally, both Communist China and Taiwan are consider as two China nation (kind of like north and south korea) socially people consider communist china to be china and Taiwan to be Taiwan, it is also a view that is share by the Taiwan public. China has regained its strength after economic reform after Mow's death. However, while the China during the ancient day play the role of a super hero, China today is more as a super villian, rather then a super hero. China's propaganda continue to broadcast the bad things done to China during 19th century and WW2, as a form of propaganda, theory is that if they can get the people of China to hate the west and Japan enough, they would side with the communist over them, despite how much they hate the communist
Prior to twenty century, Chinese society generally consider Europeans as barbarians, the same way Rome once see the Germans and French and British as savages, also. Mainly due to the fact that China's culture and ideology has fully modernized to modern 21st century standard, since as far back as history can recorded, which is at least 4000 years ago, where Europe during that time, wasn't exactly there, yet. For example, while many Western country was still having slaves, well into the 19th century, China has abolish slavery since 1500 years ago. The constant warfare amount European country, due to insignificant reasons, such as different religion or because the British and Portuguese wanted to dominated the sea, is been frowned upon and refer to as meaningless war, by the Chinese. The Chinese on the other hand, was already operating their military on modern principle, which believe that invading other country is unethical and a country should only fight war in self defense, an ideology that does not exist in most western countries, until after WW1, it is also why, through out history, there was never such thing call a Chinese Empire or story of Chinese invading foreign nations. Western believe of divine right of the King and the nation is rightfully the property of the King and the people are merely the King's slavery property, is in significant conflict with Chinese's believe that the nation is rightfully the property of the people and the King and all ruling class must act in respect to that and rule in public interest, a philosophy that was the guiding principle of China's govern, since the first century. All of these, leads the Chinese to view the Europeans as mere savages.
However, the modernized value played a vital role in regards to why China could have been the most powerful nation throughout most of human history.
The fact that the Chinese see the west as savages, leads the Chinese to see the west from a snobby point of view.
Prior to 19th century, first encounter Portuguese
The first encounter between Chinese and the west was the Portuguese, during the 16th century, year 1511, where Portuguese finally reached China and paid tribute to the Chinese Emperor for Chinese protection and later on wards so the Chinese would lease the Portuguese, Marco as a base of commercial operation in Asia, where in exchange the Portuguese would give China a handsome yearly tribute. The first war China has with Europe was also with Portuguese. The first war was when Portuguese troops try to invade Malaysia and successfully defeated Malaysia forces. During the old Asia, China play a role in Asia, similar to the role US played in the modern world. The invasion of Malaysia, caused immediate Chinese invasion of all Portuguese colony in Asia and defeated the Portuguese easily. Portuguese nobles, officials and generals, in Asia, was been found guilty of war crime by the Chinese, for invading Malaysia and was sentence to torture and then execution by the Chinese. The execution result in Portuguese attempt to invade China and move in from China's Guangzhou province, but the Portuguese army was quickly been defeated by the Guangzhou riot police, before the Chinese army, even arrived. Where the Guangzhou police arrested multiple Portuguese soldiers and killed any other soldiers that refuse arrest. The two invasion leads the Chinese Emperor to take extreme measure and exile all Portuguese in China back to Marco and past law saying no Portugese are allow to ever set foot on the soil of any Asian nations other then Marco. The war further reinforce Chinese believe for European to be savages and the restriction treatment towards Europeans continue, until China was defeated by the British in the Opium war in 1840. The British was the first Western nation in the world to ever defeat China.
During 1522 the Portuguese King once again attempt to invade Asia with a fleet of Portuguese navy ships. However, the Portuguese was quickly intercept by the Chinese navy and defeated. The commander of the Portuguese fleet was also been sentenced by the Chinese for war crime, for the invasion of Malaysia and for the mass murder of Muslims. The Chinese handed him to the Muslims, for public torture and then execution, his troops suffer the same fate. The Chinese Emperor then learn, Portuguese government have been secretly capturing Chinese woman and selling them to the sex trade. This anger the Emperor of China and threaten to invade Portuguese itself, if Portuguese continue to refuse to behave and return all Chinese sex slave, back to China, a move that was been welcome by the British, who want to dominate the sea over Portuguese. While China has proven itself to be the most powerful navy of its time, China has no intention of fighting for dominate in the sea with British and Portuguese, but the Chinese would make any nation in the world that conduct invasion in Asia pay dearly.
The Emperor of China, officially declare the Portuguese navy in Asia, to be pirates and order for the Chinese navy to destroy all Portuguese navy in Asia. The experience with Portuguese further reinforced China's believe for European to be noting other then savages, troublemakers and gangsters.
News, how elite Portuguese army and navy, can be defeated even by Chinese riot police and arrested by Chinese riot police, like common criminals, leads the European power to recognize the Chinese as the dominate power of the world and proclaim that in Asia, everybody have to play according to China's rule, which is unlike in Europe, in Asia, nobody is allow to invade anyone or the Chinese will punish the invaders. The constant warfare, invasion and fight to achieve dominance that the Europeans were doing in Europe and America colony, are behavior they can not conduct in Asia, due to China's influence, over the region, whom took up the role of an all powerful guardian god.
The King of Portuguese soon gave in to the Chinese's demand and seize all military campaign in Asia and return all Chinese sex slave in Europe back to China.
In this instant China live up to its reputation in European myth that origin from the 13th century, that China is the most powerful nation in the world and the myth of believing the Emperor of China is god himself and the people of China are the angels.
The constant warfare with Portuguese, soon leads to Chinese to believe, instead of trying to defeat them, it might be wiser to rehabilitate them, through using Consciousnesses ideology and retook governing of Marco, but still allowing Portuguese to live there. The success of the project leads to many Portuguese living in Asia to have adopt eastern value. However, the experience with Portuguese only further reinforce Chinese believe for the west to be savages that need to be civilized.
During the early 19th century (1800) Portuguese decided to re attempt to pull the same crap the west was pulling in Europe in Asia again, sending a navel fleet to operate around China's Ningbo province. Once again, the Emperor of China, categorized the Portuguese navy fleet as pirates. Ningbo province's governor send out Ningbo police and bounty hunters to destroy the Portuguese fleet, the Chinese police destroyed the Portuguese navy and arrested the sailors, killing 40 Portuguese sailors that refuse arrest. Three Chinese police officers, including one British man who was serving in the Chinese police force, died. Like before, the Chinese torture and executed the commander of the Portuguese fleet, to set an example, to the west, of what would happen to people that try to invade any country in Asia.
Prior two 19th century, 2nd encounter Dutch and Spanish
The Dutch and Spanish is the next to arrived in Asia, during the 17th century, however, they managed to find loop holes in China's anti invasion law and colonize, without causing China to attack them. That is, instead of invading other countries, the Dutch and Spanish search for land, who have no inhabitants and took the island Taiwan, which in that time was not the property of any nation. The Dutch try to attack the Portuguese, believing that the Chinese would not come to their aid. The Dutch was wrong, Chinese troops defeated the Dutch invading Marco and once again they torture and executed the commander of the Dutch fleet, in public, setting an example saying the crime of invasion would not go unpunished by the Chinese, who fancy themselves and the reincarnation of the gods. As for the rest of the Dutch soldiers who escape the fate of been executed, the Chinese handed them over to the Portuguese.
The Spanish choose to play by China's book, however, during the mid eighteen century, where China was in the middle of a civil war, the Spanish took the opportunity to invade Dutch colonies in Asia, believing the Chinese would be too busy, to pay any attention to them. The Spanish was right and quickly defeated the Dutch forces in Taiwan. The civil war in China leads to the defeat of the original Ming government of China and the victors established the new Qing government of China. While China ignored Spain during the civil war, once the war is over, Spain also faced China's wrath for conducting invasions in Asia. Changon Zhan, a General of the Ming government, still wanted to fight against the new Qing government and restore the Ming government and need a new base of operation. Zhan quickly used Spain's invasion of Dutch territory as an excuse and invaded the Spain colonized Taiwan and defeated them, in ten days and appointed himself the Emperor of Taiwan. Zhan brought along a whole bunch of Chinese who is not willing to live under the Qing's rule. Changon Zhan then have Taiwan's original Spanish ruling class arrested and have all Spanish troops in Taiwan that was responsible for invading Dutch territory arrested too and seize their asset to compensate the Dutch family's lost within the Spanish invasion. The Spain and the Dutch was given a choice to either stay and live in Taiwan under Changon Zhan's rule or to return to Europe. However, to stay in Taiwan, mean they must learn to peacefully co exist with the Chinese, Dutch and Spanish or otherwise suffer exile, by the government. Surprisingly, most Dutch and Spanish civilian prefer life under the rule of an Asian Emperor and choose to stay.
Prior to 19th century China defeated Russia
During the 17th century, Russia move south to China's northern territory, which was not been used and set up govern there, not knowing the Chines already proclaim those land as their territory. The result is throughout the next 50 years there was a series of wars between Russia and China, along China's southern boarder and Russia's northern boarder (1643~1689). Russia suffered heavy lost, including having entire armies been wiped out by the Chinese army, but was able to defeat the regional Chinese police force, without problem. Russian commanders that was been captured by the Chinese, was been brought back to China and executed. Chinese lost was minimum. In 1689 Russia surrendered. Because the boarder between China and Russia has been unclear in the past, China agree to go to the diplomat table and renegotiate a clear borderline with Russia, promising the Russians to be fair and hold up their end of the bargain, to the best of their ability
Europe catching up and surpassing China during the 19th century part 1
The war between Taiwan and China lasted for 50 years, until Taiwan navy was finally defeated by the Chinese. Taiwan became a state under the Qing government rule, the previous Prime Minister of Taiwan, was appointed as governor.
By this time, the European nation have all learn to play by China's rule, while operating in Asia, rule number 1, nobody invade anybody, while in Asia, rule number 2, no slave trade in Asia, 3. the government must work in public interest and put the interest of the people ahead of the interest of the king, if anybody violate any of these rules, the Chinese would punish them seriously. Everybody fear the wrath of China, including the British whose navy could still be easily crushed by the Chinese without breaking a sweat.
However, during this era two things happened. The first thing that happened between1722~1735, where Emperor Qiánlóng took offense by the fact that the Western ambassador to China refuse to show his respect to China's Emperor according to China's custom, which is to get down on your knee and bow to the Emperor three times, having your head touch the ground every time and sealed off four of the five ports that allows Europe to trade with China. In addition because China was still way more powerful then Europe during that time, Qianlong dismissed all European goods been sold to China as garbage, frequently without even looking at the goods and seize trade with Europe. This policy continue throughout the era of the following two Chinese Emperor Jiaqìng (1796~1820) and Emperor Dàoguong. (1820~1850)
This result in a situation where all trade between China and the west was running on a one way stream. The western world was continuing to learn new Chinese skills and knowledge and adapting it to their own and creating new things. However, because China refuse to buy western goods, these new technology the west developed was not been sold back to China. It soon leads to a situation where the west caught up with China on many arena and eventually even surpassed China.
Also during Emperor Daoguang's Era something else happened, the Imperial court, which is a critical part of China's Qing government became corrupted. The police and regional governor, participate in illegal activities openly, taking bribes and allow smuggling opium into China, sometime use their power to dominate China's illegal drug trafficking market, by killing their opponents. Government officials are frequently incompetent, arrogance and use their power abusively. Some officials even exercise racial prejudice towards European settlers (due to the reputation of Europe to be savages), who move to China hoping to find a better life, angering the Chinese public, whom believe racial prejudice to be "unacceptable behavior for a Chinese gentlemen." The corruption also mean, the Emperor receive false information. Because China is a very large nation, Emperors' of the Qing dynasty rely on his adviser to rule the nation. In term of running the nation, the Emperor is only responsible for the administration aspect of things, and leave the technical aspect of running China to his advisers. The Emperor get all of his information and understanding towards what is happening in his country, base on his advisers and regional government official's report and make his decisions base on it. Emperor Dauguang's advisers started presenting the Emperor with all fake report, that work to their advantage, as a result the Emperor lost touch with his people and has a false impression of what the situation in China was like.
All of these is destine to leads to the downfall of China.
First time China lost a war to the west 1840 Opium war China vs British
The Opium war mark the end of an era, of the almighty China and China's role as the defender of peace and justice throughout Asia.
During Emperor Daoguang era the problem with Opium in China has been increasing. Opium was originally been export to China, by the British to serve the purpose of medical use, but Chinese business man, whom the British trade with sold these drugs for recreational use. The result is the increase number of people addicted to this drug, with increase demand in Opium, British businessman grow even more Opium to be sold to China, with no regards of how the product is been used.
Emperor Daoguang decided to ban the usage of Opium in China all together and send his adviser Ling to get the job done. Ling's consider all white people to be the enemy of China and aimed all of his guns at the British businessman, locking them in their home, giving them no food and water, until they hand over all of their opium for the government to be destroy and chopping off the head of Chinese businessman who sell opium. Ling's technique was proven ineffective and have humanitarianism issues that was frowned upon. The constant attack on British citizen living in China, under Ling's order, finally leads the British to call Britain for help.
During that time, Europe believe China is still the most superior military in the world and the past experience of been defeated by China still haunts them. After all, it was less then 40 years ago, where the entire Portuguese navy was been defeated by the Chinese and not been defeated by Chinese navy, but regional Chinese state police.
British parliament debated for months about invading China, many believe British would be crushed by the Chinese, only few have confident in British's navel strength to be of match against the Chinese navy. In the end, the only MP who managed to convince the parliament to invade, is a Chinese educated British MP, whom believe China has violated the same principle it once uphold and while China traditionally defend the world against "tyranny" and is a defender of peace and human right, China are now criminal of the very same thing, they once defend and it is now British's turn to teach China a lesson, the same lesson that the Chinese have taught every single nation who try to conduct invade another, any nation that conduct mass murder and rulers that conduct tyranny, in the past. And he started persuade the British parliament to send troops to China. Finally the proposal to invade China won with a land slide, within British's parliament and a terrified British navy set sail for China, many of the soldiers were terrified of fighting against the Chinese, as China still has the reputation of been the most powerful nation in the world and how they ruthlessly punish any body who conduct invasions in Asia.
When the British fleet reach China and meet the Chinese navy fleet, the British was terrified. They fear engaging the Chinese in combat, thinking the Chinese would destroy the British forces, in a split second. So, instead the British commander try to engage the Chinese commander in diplomacy instead, hoping it would spare his soldiers' life. But the problem is that in China, a white flag means we are attacking you and in Britain a red flag means attack. The flag of the Chinese navy was red, so when the British saw the red flag, they thought the Chinese were attacking and when the Chinese saw the British waving a white flag at them, the Chinese thought the British was attacking, so the Chinese and British navy opened fire. The British navy whom was expecting to be slaughtered by the Chinese navy, in less then a split second, found them self defeating the Chinese navy easily, much to the British's surprise. Turns out after almost 100 years of one way trade and the corruption of the existing Chinese government, has finally meant the once mighty China to have collapsed. The British army landed on shore and fought a series of successful battle against the Chinese. The British won the opium war. The success of this war was a joyful occasion in Britain. The British done what everybody thought was impossible, they defeated the Chinese, in a swift victory. The mighty China have finally fall and Britain is taking China's place, as the world power, now Britain can really call themselves the dominate master of the sea. The victory of the opium war leads Britain to take Hong Kong, from China.
The Chinese civil war the Britain and China Qing government vs China Taiping government
This humiliating defeat soon leads China to believe it needs to change. The Chinese people is already angry about the now corrupt Qing government and this humiliating defeat against the British enraged the people even more and leads to the people uprising to over throw the Qing government and a new government call Taiping government meaning "heavenly peace" was formed, the Qing government who was seriously defeated, turn to the British for help. The British backed the Qing, the war last for 14 years, until the the Qing government finally won. (1850~1864)
The war was total war in China.
The second opium war
British attack China to force China to legalize the selling of opium in China. The Chinese suffered another massive defeat against the British, France and Russia. This war also happen during the time where the Qing government and Taiping government was still fighting their civil war. (1856~1860)
Sino-French war. The french was defeated
The French attempt to invade Vietnam, was interfere by the Chinese. As one of China's most loyal followers, the Chinese government refuse to Vietnam to fall to French control. The increasing trade between China and Europe means, the Chinese military at this stage has completely modernized. The French try to conduct negotiation with the Chinese to allow French invasion of Vietnam, the Chinese disallow, the result is that another war broke out between the French and the Chinese, over the sovereignty of Vietnam the war lasted from 1884~1885
French navy was been defeated by the Chinese at the coast of Taiwan. French army was been defeated at Vietnam. French continue to send troops to fight against the Chinese, but continue to suffer defeat, in the end the French and the Chinese return to the diplomacy table, where the French still managed to get most of what they want within diplomacy.
This is once again cost by corruption as the then corrupt Cixi, wanted to secure her power and fear the continue war might destabilize it.
Cixi is the Emperor's step mother, she was more interest in securing her power then the future of China. To secure her power, she put restraints on China's progress. China would have caught up with the western world and resume its position as world's most powerful country, by that stage, if it wasn't for her, evident by the Sino-French war, where the French was humiliated in defeat.
The French vs China war, almost ended the colonial era in China, with many people suspecting China is returning to its former glory.
Sino-Japanese war 1894~1895
A humiliating defeat on the Chinese part, despite the fact the Chinese has a more advance navy, they lost to the Japanese.
The boxer rebellion 1989~1901
The corrupt Empress Cixi used a group known as the boxers to attack the western forces in China, the result is another massive defeat for the Chinese.
However, the defeat of China was not on the battle field, but once again for Cixi to secure her power. Chinese forces wasn't defeated yet, they merely fall back from Bejin and Tajin to regroup and await to attack. In the initial battle the Chinese successfully push the western powers out of Chinese soil, where the Europeans fall back to sea and the remaining Western forces in China was been cut off and has no supplies. But reinforcement from the west allows the Europeans to push the Chinese back, therefore the Chinese generals decided to first fall back out of Bejin, where the Western power in Bejin, haven't been starve out of the war yet. Once the troops reground they would be able to push the Western powers back to the sea again.
After the Qing denisty
Ten years after the box rebelion, the people of China had more then enough and over throw the Qing government and form the Republic government, known as Republic of China. The end of Cixi rule and corruption of the Qing government bring the western colonization of China to an immediate end. During WW1, China allied itself with the British and French and defeated all German forces in China and pushed the Russians out of China too. However, the instability of the time, mean China soon split into two, northern China rule by the military, south China rule by the democratic republic government. Soon follow the defeat of the northern warlords China faced WW2 against Japan. China and Russia soon form an alliance, but Russia prove themselves as a weak allied, but China was able to save Russia by forcing Japan to focus most of its attention to it. Russia used this opportunity to sign a none aggression pack with Japan and abandon China, to deal with japan along. The defeat in WW2, mean Japan must return all Japanese colony to China. After WW2, China faced communist treat, still exhausted after fight two wars straight, the democratic government no longer has the strength to fight another war and withdraw to islands that are Chinese territory, along China's east coast and hold off the communist there. They established Taiwan's Taipei city as the new capital of China. Today, while legally, both Communist China and Taiwan are consider as two China nation (kind of like north and south korea) socially people consider communist china to be china and Taiwan to be Taiwan, it is also a view that is share by the Taiwan public. China has regained its strength after economic reform after Mow's death. However, while the China during the ancient day play the role of a super hero, China today is more as a super villian, rather then a super hero. China's propaganda continue to broadcast the bad things done to China during 19th century and WW2, as a form of propaganda, theory is that if they can get the people of China to hate the west and Japan enough, they would side with the communist over them, despite how much they hate the communist
| 30 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
