Chinese Imperialism

The British sphere of influence in China is an example of the harmful affects of imperialism on the territories being turned into subservient populations.  The British went into China when China was politically unstable, causing a growth in tension that the Chinese government was unable to accommodate.  The British, being free trade zealots, argued with China over the Chinese limiting rules of British influence in Chinese trade, a self-centered move that reflects the arrogance of British imperialism.  The fact that Britain had a net lose in China should be a credit to China, who managed to keep the most powerful nation in the world from controlling them with bully tactics and an egotistic sense of right.  But, Opium kept Britain from being held to only Hong Kong, allowing them turn their net lose into a net gain in China.  They set up the triangle trade between India, China, and Britain, using the Chinese addiction to Opium to the Brit’s advantage.  Had the Chinese been successful in cracking down on Opium and British expansion, they could have survived the harmful effects of British influence, but unfortunately the Chinese were forced to go to war with the most powerful nation in the world and subsequently forced to give even more undeserved rights to British traders.  This move, helped by unhealthy competition in Europe, sparked other European nations to get part of the Chinese trade as well, causing the decline of China as a prominent power, and cementing Europe’s control over trade across the world.