Question

China remained a ‘semi-colony’ of the European powers, where each one of them vied for their share of influences. Critically analyse.

Answer 1

Instructions: The answer must include the explanation as to why China was termed as a semi-colony and further examine the ways in which the status of semi-colony was the nature of colonialisation of China.

Solution: China remained a semi-colony, as it was not considered a full-fledged colony of one European power. Post the Opium War treaties, China became a country which had to not only pay a huge war indemnity, but also allow almost every European to have their share of influences via trade and establish their settlements, much to the dislike of the Chinese rulers. Politically and economically, China came to be controlled by several European powers including France, Germany, and Russia, etc. By the late 19th century, Japan emerged as a power to reckon with and fought with the Chinese, eventually forcing the latter to cede huge territories over and above the war indemnities.