The beginnings of the American-British rivalry in China (1844-1941)

Abstract

China became a focal point of international competition that began in the 19th century. Britain occupied a significant trading position in China due to its proximity to India. This prompted the United States to enter the arena of competition and challenge these countries, particularly Britain. The US realized that controlling Chinese trade meant controlling the entire Middle East. The first manifestation of this trade was the arrival of American ships in Canton, where Britain's role began to rival China's. During the Opium Wars, China was forced to sign unequal treaties and open its ports to these powers, which intensified international competition. Washington then adopted the Open Door Policy in 1899 to prevent these powers from interfering.

     During World War I, beginning in 1914, as major powers, particularly Britain, began to withdraw from the arena of competition, Washington strengthened its position and influence in China. At the Washington Conference of 1922, the US emerged as a defender of China, compelling Japan to respect Chinese sovereignty and withdraw. It also rejected the occupation of Manchuria in 1931 and Shanghai in 1932, and opposed any changes that infringed upon Chinese sovereignty. Meanwhile, Britain refrained from condemning the occupations, fearing for its own interests. Thus, Washington became the dominant power.

     When Japan occupied Beijing in 1937, Washington seized the opportunity to bolster its influence in China. Britain's power and influence had waned, rendering it unable to protect its interests and unwilling to take joint action against Japan. Washington emerged as the only nation capable of halting Japanese aggression. It provided assistance to China and imposed sanctions on Japan, leading Chinese President Chiang Kai-shek to look to the US more closely than to Britain. This fueled British concerns that Washington sought to marginalize China. To maintain its influence and commercial position in the region, the US pressured Britain to alter its policy and support any American initiative to resolve the crisis.

    With the declaration of World War II in 1939 and the failure of the settlement conferences, the situation worsened, as Japan expanded further into China. The American government protested against this and encouraged China to resist it, which prompted the Tokyo government to seek an American settlement and rejected any British mediation and proposal to resolve the crisis, as Washington also rejected it. Churchill considered this a plan to distance them from China and lose his influence there. What increased his suspicions were the secret negotiations that took place between Tokyo and Washington in early 1941, but they failed, and Japan bombed American interests in Pearl Harbor in 1941. Consequently, the latter became involved in the China theater politically, economically, and militarily.