Was the “Open Door Policy” of 1900 - 1910 Beneficial to China?

Introduction:

    By the late nineteenth century, European powers like Great Britain, France, and Germany along with the Asian powers of Russia and Japan had begun to take an increasing role of influence and territory within China’s borders. As the Qing dynasty was gradually declining and as a result from the territorial loss of the Sino-Japanese Wars, China had become significantly weaker than the powers looming in above the homeland who wanted as much economic and political control over the country as possible (Tignor 314). Already aware of this, the Qing dynasty was weary of increased foreign influence and was split among deciding to take care of the problem by means of sticking with Chinese traditionalism or to attempt to Westernize the nation (Overfield 22).
    During this political instability, the United States appeared on the scene as well, wanting to get access to China’s markets after having acquired control over the “Philippines and other Pacific territories” from the Spanish-American War (McCormick). Afraid that Europe and Japan was going to essentially divide China up into colonies, the U.S. drafted open door notes in 1899 that when signed eventually became the “open door policy” which essentially stated that everyone was to have fair economic opportunity to trade with China without any of the powers taking political control over the nation. Here is an excerpt from the first open door note that was passed among the Powers to come to an agreement about the involvement in China: “…to insure … the commerce of all nations in China the undoubted benefits which should accrue from a formal recognition by the various powers claiming ‘spheres of interest’ that they shall enjoy perfect equality of treatment for their commerce and navigation within such ‘spheres’" (First). This policy took effect by the turn of the century, further displeasing China and the Qing regime, as now another power was trying to gain access to their market and give permission for other nations to have the same access.
    As foreign pressures increased around China’s borders, political instability and social upheaval grew within the nation, and as the nation continued to lose wars like that of the Sino-Japanese War, China’s economic situation was beginning to be an increasing problem, while Westerners were trying to impose their European economic and political ideologies and spread Christianity over there, too (Tignor 314). From this intrusion upon China, many took offense to the overwhelming foreign presence and “Chinese political and intellectual leaders developed an anti-European stance, while advocating the use of European ideas and technology to strengthen China itself” (Tignor 314). In all of this internal and external mess, nonetheless the “open door policy” that was enforced during the “open door decade 1900-1910” (McCormick) was ultimately a bad policy for China because it was against the will of the majority of the Chinese people, the policy was enforced primarily out of the interest of the U.S. and other involved Powers, and overall the policy was ineffectively maintained leading to further disasters for China.