How much did China lose under the Xinugu Treaty? Why do some countries voluntarily refund the compensation?
As we all know, in the 5,000-year history of China, the end of the Qing Dynasty is a relatively dim history. In this period of history, Yangyang China is like fish on a board, trampled and trampled by the great powers at will. Unequal treaties, more like mountains, weighed down on the heads of the people and were breathless.
Among the many unequal treaties signed by the late Qing government and the great powers, the Treaty of Xinugu was the treaty with the largest amount of reparations and the widest coverage. Because of the 8 countries that invaded China together, each country enjoyed the right to claim compensation against the Qing Dynasty. We all know that in the "Xinugu Treaty", the Qing government needed to compensate the world with 450 million taels of silver, but because the pressure was too great, the Qing government chose to pay in installments and pay it off in 39 years, so benli plus local indemnities, this figure reached 1 billion taels of silver!
You know, the Qing government's annual revenue from the national treasury was only more than 29 million taels, of which military expenditure accounted for nearly half, plus various expenses, even the annual interest could not be paid, and it was not enough to fill this bottomless pit at all, so how was this money finally solved? In other words, how much money did China lose under the Xinugu Treaty?
First of all, we must make it clear that 10 years after the signing of the Xinugu Treaty, the Qing government collapsed. Before that, the Qing government paid off the principal for 3 consecutive years, and had to compensate a huge amount of about 100 million yuan every year!
Such huge reparations also accelerated the demise of the Qing court. Because there was not enough money, the Qing government squeezed the people vigorously, and as a result, the Xinhai Revolution broke out and directly overthrew the Qing court. So, after the Qing court was overthrown, did we not have to pay compensation? It's not that simple!
Because the "Xinugu Treaty" signed between the Qing Dynasty and the great powers was not signed in the name of the Qing Dynasty, but in the name of China. Therefore, even if the Qing Dynasty is destroyed, we must pay back this money! Sure enough, when the Republic of China was just established, Yuan Shikai announced that all the treaties signed by the Qing government and the great powers would be compensated as usual!
So, did the mainland pay off 1 billion taels of silver with profits? In fact, it is not, the United States is the first country to refund the reparations to China. The reason for this is that when an overseas Chinese was investigating abroad, he found that the compensation proposed by the United States in the "Xinugu Treaty" was far higher than the actual use of military expenses and losses. So he used this report to provoke public opinion and demand that the United States refund the excess compensation!
At that time, the Qing government also sent ministers to the United States to negotiate, and after a long period of hard work, the United States actually agreed to refund China! So why is the United States so kind? Are they sympathetic to China?
Of course not, between countries, there is only interest without sympathy. The reason why the United States has done this is also to establish a good image in the international community and increase the influence of the country. At the same time, the United States also wants to change their impression in the minds of Chinese. Because after the Xinugu Treaty, the people at the bottom of China hated the United States to the bone, and began to boycott American goods in coastal areas, resulting in heavy losses for many American merchants. The United States also wants to take this opportunity to win china over and win the favor of Chinese.
On the other hand, the partial refund promised by the United States can only be used to build a school for the Qing government to study in the United States, and it is also stipulated that the Qing Dynasty must draw a group of students from China to study in the United States every year. At that time, the United States' wishful thinking was to let a large number of Chinese talents flow into the United States and bring more benefits to the United States. Unexpectedly, however, many Chinese after obtaining technology in the United States, turned around and returned to China to serve the motherland.
In any case, however, the United States has made a good start for the great powers. Since then, the various powers have also "compromised" with China one by one.
With the outbreak of World War I, many European countries were involved. The Beiyang government was also elected to marry into the Entente in 1917. Immediately, China announced that it would stop paying reparations to Germany. After the victory of the Allies in World War I, China became the victorious power, so Austria, Hungary and Germany also gave up their reparations to China one by one.
Since then, many countries, including Japan, have also begun to take the initiative to refund China. But Japan only verbally promised a refund, and in fact did not return a penny. Taking hundreds of millions of taels of silver from the Treaty of Maguan and the Treaty of Xinugu, Japan vigorously developed its military and became the largest power in Asia, laying the groundwork for the subsequent invasion of China.
China began to pay indemnities in 1902, and did not stop completely until 1943, compensating the great powers with a total of more than 500 million taels of silver! And this money is all exchanged for the lives of countless ordinary people with flesh and blood! This shows how important it is for a country to be strong!