Routledge Government, Imperialism and Nationalism in China - Maritime Customs Service

This scholarly work examines the Chinese Maritime Customs Service through the lens of its Chinese staff, moving beyond conventional accounts that focus solely on British leadership and Western imperial dominance. Based on extensive original research, the book reveals how the Chinese government pursued deliberate policies to develop domestic expertise whilst navigating the complexities of Western economic influence. Rather than treating the Maritime Customs Service as merely an instrument of imperialism, this study demonstrates the agency and strategic thinking of Chinese officials who worked within the service. The book explores how customs revenue shaped China's financial relationship with Western powers, whilst examining the professional lives and contributions of lower-level Chinese staff members. This nuanced historical analysis contributes to broader understandings of Chinese modernisation, institutional development, and resistance to imperial pressures during a pivotal period in East Asian history.