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social.studies@tjc

Monday, April 23, 2007

China's Closed-door Policy
The Manchus established the Qing dynasty in 1644. During their rule over China, the Manchus subdued the remnants of Mongol resistance in the northwest, and conquered the Khalkhas, the Kalmuks, and the Turks. They also formally annexed Outer and Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Tibet, thereby fixing the modern boundaries of China. In 1683, Qing forces took over Taiwan.

At the height of Qing power, the Manchus utilized the best minds and richest human resources of the country, regardless of race, to carry out many scholarly projects. However, Western missionaries -- active in China since the end of the Ming -- lost the trust of the Yung Cheng Emperor due to their role in a power struggle for the throne. Christianity was banned in 1724 and the flow of Western technology into China slowed to a trickle thereafter.

During the entire 18th century and the early 19th century, the Qing court adopted a virtual closed-door policy toward the Western world while Europe was being transformed and invigorated by the rise of rationalism, nationalism, colonialism, and ultimately the industrial revolution.

My reflection:
China is a country with more than 5000 years of history, after the globalisation policy spread over China; the economic improvement was significant and quick.
The article introduces a brief history about the how Manchus adopted the closed-door policy which put globalisation a stop in China.
China practiced globalisation in the Han dynasty (206BC-220AD) while the world was just embarking into the global age; the Silk Road brought the flow of goods, information, technology and people across national borders in ancient China. The Silk Road brought people together and linked the people of eastern hemisphere. During the Tang dynasty (618-901) trade flourished and the Silk Route expanded as Chinese traded with the Romans.
The Silk Road brought China great economic benefits. The flow of western goods and increasing trade of silks, teas and jade products gained unimaginable financial rewards. So people in ancient times realized the economical benefits of globalisation.
The closed-door policy was adopted by the emperors in Qing dynasty to resist the flow of Western foods and believes into China.
But the impacts of the closed-door policy was, China suffered one humiliating defeat after another and the people languished in poverty and starvation as a result of brutal foreign aggressions and corrupt and incompetent feudal rulers. As China was not aware of how strong the western military powers were.
The situation changed after the communist Party took over. Since the implementation of reform and the opening up program leaded by Mr. Deng Xiao Ping, China has undergone great transformation. China’s GDP increased dramatically from $147.3 billion to $1.6494 trillion from 1978 to 2004. It showed that China was greatly affected by the trend of globalisation which introduced China to the world with a new and positive appearance.
The open-door policy proved that globalisation to a large extent has brought China thriving economic progress and ensured that China's economy would develop in a balanced way by keeping pace with the world economy
China built up a more open market space and allowed herself participate in more and more international cooperation. Therefore, as a economic expert, I strongly agreed with globalisation was the way to go!
Posted by Zhang Lin

ended entry at
4:01 PM