Evaluate the reasons why western trade missions failed to change the Chinese tribute system.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the reasons why western trade missions failed to change the Chinese tribute system, weighing up their importance or otherwise. Candidates may offer equal coverage of western trade missions and the tribute system, or they may prioritize their evaluation of one of them. However, both aspects must be a feature of the response. There may be evaluation of the importance of the tribute system to the emperors, who regarded trade as a privilege to be granted, and not a right. The tributary system conferred status and benefits both for the emperor and the tributaries. Candidates may argue that the western missions failed because of British reluctance to perform the kowtow. There were also worsening relations over, for example, British actions in Nepal and Macao. The growth of trade outside the tributary system lessened the need for change. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates make an appraisal of the reasons why western trade missions failed to change the Chinese tribute system. This was a relatively popular question. Most candidates demonstrated an in-depth knowledge of the tribute system and the reasons why China was reluctant to change this system. However, knowledge of the trade missions was a little inconsistent, with the majority of candidates only discussing the impact of the Macartney Mission. Many candidates also focused too heavily on the reasons why the missions failed rather than why they failed to change the tribute system.