China Declares War on Foreign Powers
June 21st, 1900
June 21st, 1900

How Long Ago?
124 years, 8 months, 22 days ago
Location
China
Category
Military & Warfare
War/Conflict
Boxer Rebellion
People
- Empress Dowager Cixi
- King Edward VII
- Emperor Meiji
- President William McKinley
- Chancellor Otto von Bismarck
- Prime Minister Émile Loubet
Links & References
Tags
China Declares War on Foreign Powers
In response to foreign intervention in China, Empress Dowager Cixi issued an edict declaring war against the United States, Britain, Germany, France, and Japan. This declaration was a significant escalation in the Boxer Rebellion, which aimed to expel foreign influence and missionaries from China. The empress believed that the only way to preserve Chinese sovereignty was to confront these foreign powers militarily. The action led to heightened tensions and military engagements in multiple regions of China.
The Boxer Rebellion aimed to remove foreign influence.
Cixi's war declaration united various Chinese factions.
Foreign powers responded with military intervention.
The Boxer Protocol imposed severe penalties on China.
What Happened?
Empress Dowager Cixi's edict to declare war against several foreign powers was a pivotal moment in the Boxer Rebellion, a violent anti-foreign and anti-Christian uprising in China that began in the late 1890s. The Boxers, a secret society also known as the 'Yihequan', aimed to rid China of foreign influence through violent means. They believed that certain rituals and beliefs could protect them from bullets, leading to brutal attacks on foreign nationals and Chinese Christians. With increasing violence, foreign troops were deployed to protect their citizens and interests in China. The response from Cixi represented a desperate and controversial gambit to unify various factions within China against a common enemy, hoping that the declaration of war would galvanize support for the Boxers and demonstrate Chinese resolve. It marked a turning point in the Boxer Rebellion, prompting a full military intervention by an Eight-Nation Alliance, which included Britain, Japan, the United States, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, and Austria-Hungary. Following the declaration, foreign legations in Beijing came under siege, leading to intense fighting and a wider conflict across China. The implication for Cixi's reign was significant, as she navigated the treacherous waters of foreign relations while attempting to maintain control over a fragmented nation.
Why Does it Matter?
The declaration of war against foreign powers had far-reaching consequences for China and its relationship with the West. It not only intensified the Boxer Rebellion but also eventually led to a military intervention by foreign nations, culminating in the signing of the Boxer Protocol, which imposed severe penalties on China. This set a precedent for foreign intervention in Chinese domestic affairs and increased anti-foreign sentiment within the country, contributing to the decline of the Qing Dynasty. The Boxer Rebellion is an important touchstone for understanding modern Chinese nationalism and the efforts to combat foreign imperialism.
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