The China White Paper 1949(II)

According to this book, the US policy towards China was for the purpose of getting equality of trading rights in China. The United States saw their first treaty with China, the Treaty of Wanghia (望廈條約) signed on July 3, 1844 had embraced the principle of equality of commercial opportunity, as expressed in the most-favoured-nation clause inside the treaty. Wanghia was named after a small village located slightly north of Macao. The American thought that such a clause had served their interest well up to the late 1890s when they felt the Great Powers was beginning to divide China into spheres of interest that could break China apart.1 In response to the situation, US tried to adopt a new policy towards China: The Open Door Policy. In 1899 the American suggested to the Powers that, within their respective sphere of interest, they would treat the national of all countries equally in matters such as general tariffs, railroad tariff and harbour dues. In 1900, after the Boxer Uprising, the United States formalized its Open Door Policy, with the aim of preserving "Chinese territorial and administrative entity". Starting from the early 20th century, US policy towards China was guided by two principles: to seek equal commercial opportunity in China, and to maintain Chinese territorial and administrative integrity.2 (to be continued)

Notes:
1.United States, Department of State. The China White Paper-August 1949. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1967, page 2.

2. Ibid., page 3.