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Treaties of Tianjin

Chinese history
Also known as: Treaties of Tientsin

Quick Summary

The Treaties of Tianjin were a series of agreements signed in 1858 that supplemented earlier treaties between China and foreign imperialist powers, primarily following the second Opium War. These treaties were part of a broader pattern of "unequal treaties" where China was compelled to cede territorial and sovereignty rights.1

Key provisions of the Treaties of Tianjin included:
* Allowing foreign diplomats to reside in Beijing.
* Granting foreigners the right to travel throughout China.
* Opening the Yangtze River to foreign navigation.
* Permitting Christian missionaries to spread their faith.
* Legalizing the importation of opium and the coolie trade.
* Opening ten new ports for foreign trade and residence.1

These treaties expanded upon the concessions made in earlier agreements like the Treaty of Nanjing (1842), which had already forced China to cede Hong Kong and open several treaty ports to foreign trade.12

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. unequal treaty
  2. Treaty of Nanjing

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