Powers’ Arms Embargo To China (1900-1903) Re-Arming The Shoulders:China’s Re-entering The World Systemfrom The Perspective Of Weapon Prohibition

Weapons or Arms are basic elements for the war. Manufacturing of arms equipment has been National priority all the time. So the so-called arms are th essential for modern national country. It includes Military Weapons,Ammunition, Equipment or Stores.After the surrender of Qing dynasty, China began to purchase overseas naval and military equipment in large quantities. From rifles to ironclad warships, both small arms and heavy weapons were included. The insufficiency of production capacity and low efficiency of internal armories made it more possible that the Qing Dynasty army deeply relied on foreign weapon supply. Yet the national defense and diplomacy of Qing dynasty were hugely influenced when the Great Powers united to carry out the arms embargo for the first time in 1900. This thesis attempts to show the complete picture of the embargo, which was carried out from the France’s delivering a note to the other Great Powers to perform the arms embargo to Qing Dynasty, July 17,1900, to the expiration stipulated in Boxer Protocol, August 25,1903. To express the historical background of this bmbargo,the reason that the agreement come to an agreement, The Diplomatic negotiation between Qing Dynasty with England、France、 Grance and so on.Then expound the measures of this embargo,especially the effect.at last,emerge the process the embargo come to the end. The whole thesis consists of the following parts:Introduction is the first part, and it mainly states the basis and the meaning of the topic, and the research status relating to it. Moreover, it also states the research methods and the innovations.The second part is about the body of the thesis. During the period of boxer movement, the Qing government drew on the national defense forces equipped with modern western arms to launch attacks to western embassies in china in violation of international law. Germany’s minister Ketteler and Japanese clerk were killed by the Chinese slave. within the territory of china,many foreign citizen and Chinese Christian were also persecuted sharply. Westerners generally believe that the purpose of the incident is to wipe out Christians so that China can recover foemer morality and order. For this, Povers think most strict measure should be taken rapidly, include the embargo of the arms. France caught the point and delivered a note to the other Great Powers to carry out the arms embargo to china on July 17th,1900. France cast six suggestions of peace treaty On October 4,1900. It decides to continue to forbid the input of arms so that to speed up the process of Negotiation and as a punishment This part makes analysis of the motivation of France’s proposal, and briefly describes the attitudes of German, Britain, America, Japan and other Great Powers. Then, the reactions of both the external and internal Qing Dynasty are talked about.German take strict policey of embargo for their minister was killed.but the enormous interest of arms selling decides it will not insist this policy for a long time. England has the most interests in China, England suffer serious damage in this boxer incident.So England adopt very rigorous attitude.but England don’t want other country to cripple China seriously by this embargo. The United States takes negative attitude to the embargo since the frist beginning. commercial interests drive the United States help China not lost too much interest for the embargo.The third part concentrates on the execution of the embargo when taking effect. Povers enacted orders or declaration of forbidding the arms in their mainland and colonies.It includes the strict embargo at the beginning, the loophole of the embargo, the fifth clause said any kinds of arms or weapons were still forbided into China in the two years.And the Great Powers struggling to strengthen the embargo via Boxer Protocol and commercial treaty but a failure and the relaxed embargo by the countries themselves. Thus the embargo turned out to be a failure.Russia has big ambitions to northeastern China, it hopes to conclude a treaty regarding northeast of China with China alone.Russia wants to borrow the chance that the arms embargo ti expel northeast China’s military forces, so that achieving the purpose of getting the northeast of China.The last of this chapter deals with the the reaction of central and outside in the Q ing dynasty. They all have a clear understanding that the embargo would makes China’s domestic industry suffered a huge blow, and it is difficult to maintain domestic ruling order.therefore, Qing government hopes the embargo only banned temporarily,and don’t forbid material as well. But considering the general situation, Qing goverment reached a compromise agreement with the west finally: the period of this embargo is two years, but the scope of arms embargo do not define clearly in the agreement.The forth part focus on the impacts the embargo brought, including impacts on the construction of the naval and military forces, the national arsenal and the military reform of the late Qing dynasty.During the period of this embargo, Qing dynasty can not get even one warship.and Chinese shipyard only manufacture two gunships for lack of material.Even after the embargo,Powers still do not sell warship to China in fact.The revitalization of the navy is hopeless.The Qing government focuses the military reform on training the New Army and put forward the thirty-six-town plan. The construction of army is considered as the greatest achievement of the military reforms of late Qing dynasty.The fifth part is the epilogue.