Treaty Port System

The Treaty Port System was a series of agreements in the 19th and early 20th centuries, during which Western countries forced China to open certain ports to foreign trade and residence. These ports operated under foreign control, where foreign nationals enjoyed special privileges, often bypassing Chinese laws. This system significantly undermined China's sovereignty, allowed imperial powers to influence Chinese economy and politics, and facilitated the spread of Western ideas and goods. It was part of a broader pattern of unequal treaties that weakened China’s independence and contributed to internal unrest and modernization efforts.