The End of World War I Diplomacy: China at the Washington Conference

At the Paris Peace Conference, China refused to sign the Treaty of Versailles. Disputes between China and Japan remained unresolved, and the problem in the Far East persisted. In response to the situation in the Far East following Japan’s rise, both Britain and the United States were interested in adjusting their foreign policies in the region. Against this background, the Washington Conference was convened to address the Far East and disarmament issues. The Beijing government had high expectations for the conference, hoping to regain Qingdao and the Qingdao-Jinan railway and abolish the privileges of foreign powers in China through the conference. Efforts were made both within and outside the Washington Conference, resulting in the agreement of the foreign powers to investigate extraterritorial rights and convene a tariff conference. Through diplomatic engagement with Japan, the Shandong question was resolved, but at a cost.