Historical Studies (Chinese Edition)

No.1, 2017

 

The Second Case of Siming Gongsuo and the Expansion of the French Concession in Shanghai

(Abstract)

 

Ge Fuping

 

The second case of Siming Gongsuo was a major event in Shanghai at the end of the 19th century which led directly to the expansion of the French Concession in Shanghai. If we examine it from the background, process and results of the second case of Siming Gongsuo, it was not a conflict between modern municipal construction and backward national consciousness and customs, but an integral part of the imperialist powers’ partition of China at the time. In the course of negotiations, the Qing government used strategies including “local diplomacy” and “using barbarians to subdue barbarians.” To some extent, this achieved the purpose of relieving the pressure on the central government and resisting some of the aggressive demands of the French government, eventually making it give up Pudong and relinquish its aspirations to expand southward. However, the effectiveness of “local diplomacy” and “using barbarians to subdue barbarians” was limited. Not only were they unable to help the Qing government achieve its wishes; they made it appear equally difficult for Qing diplomacy to advance or retreat. Ultimately, the result was that the “barbarians” colluded to coerce the Qing government, and the loss overweighed the gain. Although there were conflicts of interest between Britain, France and other powers in the process of carving up China, they would eventually sacrifice the interests of China to reach a compromise.