Why did 19th-century European traders in China demand extraterritoriality privileges?

Nineteenth-century European traders in China demanded extraterritoriality privileges primarily to avoid the jurisdiction of Chinese law and maintain their own legal systems within foreign concessions. Extraterritoriality refers to the legal practice wherein foreigners live in a host country but are subject only to the laws of their home country. In the context of China, the 19th-century European traders recognized that Chinese legal practices and punishments were significantly different from those in Europe, often harsher and less predictable from their perspective. Furthermore, they did not trust the local Chinese judicial system to provide a fair trial or protect their rights adequately.

Seeking extraterritoriality was also part of a broader strategy by Western powers to ensure their citizens would have an edge in trade and other affairs. By securing this privilege, Europeans could operate under their laws and regulations, which often significantly benefited their commercial interests. It was one of many unequal treaties imposed by Western powers on the Qing dynasty after their victory in the Opium Wars and other military engagements, which showed the imbalance of power between China and the expanding European colonial empires.

When discussing the concept of extraterritoriality in China during the 19th century, it's important to understand the historical context. This period was marked by the expansion of European imperialist ambitions where countries like Britain, France, and others were establishing colonies and trade posts across the world, including in Asia.

The Opium Wars (1839-1842 and 1856-1860) were pivotal events that resulted in the Qing dynasty's defeat and forced China to make a number of concessions to Western powers. These concessions included the opening of additional ports for foreign trade, the cession of Hong Kong to the British, and the granting of extraterritoriality to foreigners.

The concept of extraterritoriality undermined Chinese sovereignty and is often seen as a symbol of the "Century of Humiliation," which refers to the period of intervention and imperialism by Western powers and Japan in China from the mid-19th century until the mid-20th century. Such treaties and privileges had both political and economic motivations and ramifications, and they played a critical role in shaping China's modern history and its relationships with other countries. The system of extraterritoriality only ended formally in China with the signing of new treaties in the mid-20th century, after the establishment of the People's Republic of China.