Was the “Open Door Policy” of 1900 - 1910 Beneficial to China?
Conclusion:
The Qing dynasty in China managed to witness the
beginning of an ever increasing global economy and an overwhelming
amount of foreign pressure that ended up playing a large part in the
dynasty’s fall from grace by the year of 1911. During these last
years of the Qing regime, the U.S. had implemented the “open door
policy” forcing open China’s economy to the world for
exploitation. China had been crushed by means of internal war and
struggles to fight off an unwanted Western presence, primarily the
Boxer Rebellion and the general rise of anti-European sentiment. Next,
as a result of this policy, China had to tolerate economic exploitation
from all of the Powers, especially from the U.S. and their goal of
pursuing economic self-interest in disregard to the consequences of
China. Then lastly, the poor composition and enforcement of the policy
led to multiple loopholes and various violations, too. Consequentially,
the lack of punishment for such violations allowed China to be trampled
over by Russian and Japanese as well as Japanese and Chinese
territorial feuds in Manchuria. These problems continued for a while
because full sovereignty would not be given to China officially until
after World War II