I think the key questions of this thread would be which nation could have taken the most control of China in the 19th century, and how would fare under their control?
They were pretty much the least inhumane of the colonial empires, and had successes in South Africa, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada, ANZAC, etc.
ANZAC and Canada don't seem to be fair comparisons, unless the British plan on slaughtering the Han.
And India? Mmm, I guess a large poor democracy is a success, compared to what was there before then.
Do you have your sarcasm font on? Because what was there before was a pretty darned rich place.
I know Canada and ANZAC can't be used as examples, since they were white settler colonies, vs. India and Africa which were economic colonies. Thing is, how well did France do with Algeria and Indochina? Spain with Mexico? Germany with Qingdao? I'm not sure they have a great record either. A-H was landlocked, so the chances of them having a colony is nil. Russia? Nope. France might be the other competitor, if they do things well. The Americans might be possible, if things were quieter (ie. no Civil War).
At what cost to traditional Chinese culture?
19th, huh? Well, I think Germany could be a good match for them. Then again I think the Qing could have come out of the 19th century better than OTL if the right reforms change their society enough...I think the key questions of this thread would be which nation could have taken the most control of China in the 19th century, and how would fare under their control?
Do you have your sarcasm font on? Because what was there before was a pretty darned rich place.
I hate the word 'colony' in this context...A colony to me implies actual colonies where Europeans went over to establish new settlements.
China's too big to be controlled completely by any foreign power.