China and Foreign Imperialism in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Century

China’s engagement with imperialism was distinct from the experience of colonialism of other countries in the world. During the height of imperialism in the 19th and the 20th century, China maintained its national independence despite undergoing political revolutions, social reforms, and both internal and external wars. Foreign powers severely encroached on China’s sovereignty, ceding Chinese territories, leasing lands, and acquiring treaty ports along the coast. Nonetheless, most of China remained under the authority of Chinese governments. Scholars therefore often use the concepts of "informal empire" and “semi-colonialism” to explain China’s colonial experience. Building upon their analysis, this essay proposes three dimensions in approaching the nuance of foreign presence in China: a global dimension, a cosmopolitan dimension and a local perspective. Imperial expansion in China was characterised by multi-national competition and collaboration. A transnational and global perspective helps draw connections between power struggles in Europe and imperial pursuits in China. While foreign residents in Chinese coastal cities often developed their own allegiance towards local interests, a cosmopolitan dimension is conducive to discerning the gap between the centre and periphery of imperial operations. Meanwhile, the drastic differences between Chinese coastal and inland regions warrant paying attention to local developments. The dimensions are well reflected in the visual records preserved in the film archives.