Qingdao Free Port During The German Occupation Period

In 1898,after a long-term plan,Germany was able to occupy Qingdao,and announced that Qingdao became a free trade port.Then,it began to organize the customs business of Kiaochow customs administration the trade free port and surrounding ports,trying to build it into "Hong Kong of Germany".In 1899,Measures for the establishment of customs and taxation in Qingdao failed to realize the assumption that a large number of foreign goods would flow into Qingdao and even the mainland of China,.After that,Germany carried out further control and plunder of Qingdao,trying to control Kiaochow customs,expand the customs authority,and promote the increase of tariff rate,so as to achieve the purpose of effective payment of high compensation after the war.Under the pressure of all parties,the Qing government revised the taxation method in 1905,Revised method of setting up customs in Qingdao,and the tax free area was reduced to a region near the port,then the tax standard was further refined and reset.Qingdao free trade port began to step into the right track and realize leapfrog development,becoming the second largest port in northern China in modern times.At the same time of the development of foreign trade,the negative influence brought by the trade free port is not to be ignored.Foreign economic forces are gradually infiltrating into Qingdao.The dominant position of Chinese merchants in the traditional trade was challenged,and a series of "silent protest" actions,mainly smuggling activities,began to be carried out.While the Chinese government was under the control of foreign colonists,it was also carrying out some self rescue measures.During the German occupation period,Qingdao free port was the beginning of Qingdao's foreign trade,and also the beginning of wanton colonial plunder.