近代英国谋取舟山为自由港的历史始末

The History of Modern Britain's Seeking Zhoushan for Freeport

明朝末年英国人来到中国,揭开了中英关系的序幕,同时也开始了英国对舟山长达两个世纪谋取舟山为自由港的历史。先是通过舟山这个良港与中国贸易,来打开中国的市场;然后派遣使团来华,试图通过外交谈判来开放舟山;最后是通过军事手段占领舟山,强行把舟山划为自由贸易港。

The British came to China at the end of Ming Dynasty, which signals the beginning of Sino-British relations. The British colonists began the plan of Zhoushan Freeport for the following two centuries. First, they tried to establish commercial contacts with China through Zhoushan and gain access to the market of Yangtze River. And then they sent diplomatic corps to China, trying to open Zhoushan by negotiations. Finally, they seized Zhoushan by force, attempting to turn it into a free trade port.