Post-1800: What is the earliest China could have modernized?

With a POD after AD 1800, how soon could China catch up with the West, technologically, economically, and politically? Of course, the answer would depend on when you consider it to have caught up with the West in our history; I'd post the 60s-70s is a satisfactory time frame.
 
Technologically, at least a few decades after the Opium Wars, provided they can capture some stuff and put it to good use.
Economically, they were doing rather well in the early 1800s, and got worse as time went on. Would depend far too much on how much they were willing to trade etc.
Politically, after the Qing fall and a republic or something is set up. The imperial system was very, very outdated (created in the 3rd century BC) and too resistant to change without a massive upset.

So 1900 or so.

- BNC
 
With a POD after AD 1800, how soon could China catch up with the West, technologically, economically, and politically? Of course, the answer would depend on when you consider it to have caught up with the West in our history; I'd post the 60s-70s is a satisfactory time frame.
60s or 70s. Hahahahaha. Not even close. At that time China didnt export jack to the US, let alone anything "good". China in 2016 in many aspects is still at the level the US, Japan, and Europe was in at the 1980s and 1990s (space technology, sophistication of military hardware for example). Best you can say is- in the 1990s China began to compete thanks to unfair trade practices in which foreign companies wanting to trade and build innChina had to "cooperate" and "teach" Chinese things that would otherwise be kept under wraps to keep a nation from learning trade secrets and creating their own homegrown industry. Which is exactly what happened.
 
Read The Origins of Political Order by Francis Fukuyama it will explain WHY China was the first modern state in world history and yet did not, and could not, have an industrial revolution prior to more modern times. There is a big difference between inventing paper, gunpowder, etc and creating an industry of capitalism.
 
I'd say after a devastating defeat against an industrial power, but before the Qing was unsalvageable, plus a extended period of relative peace. This rules out everything before the Taiping Rebellion and anywhere after the hundred days reformation. Maybe a reformation starting in 1864, when the Taiping rebels were defeated and Prince Gong, a reformist was at the height of his political career. Coupled with a butterflied second opium war and a China more willing to engage in free trade, the Qing could at best modernize--at least militarily by the 1880s. Other factors could modernize if lucky by the 1940s. Realistically speaking? The 1960s sounds about right.
 
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60s or 70s. Hahahahaha. Not even close. At that time China didnt export jack to the US, let alone anything "good". China in 2016 in many aspects is still at the level the US, Japan, and Europe was in at the 1980s and 1990s (space technology, sophistication of military hardware for example). Best you can say is- in the 1990s China began to compete thanks to unfair trade practices in which foreign companies wanting to trade and build innChina had to "cooperate" and "teach" Chinese things that would otherwise be kept under wraps to keep a nation from learning trade secrets and creating their own homegrown industry. Which is exactly what happened.

I used the 60s and 70s because thats the period that China became a nuclear power, and thus able to stand on its own against any foreign pressures. So, as long as it maintajns that relative parity, whether its due to military or economic parity, is irrelevant.
 
I'd say after a devastating defeat against an industrial power, but before the Qing was unsalvageable, plus a extended period of relative peace. This rules out everything before the Taiping Rebellion and anywhere after the hundred days reformation. Maybe a reformation starting in 1864, when the Taiping rebels were defeated and Prince Gong, a reformist was at the height of his political career. Coupled with a butterflied second opium war and a China more willing to engage in free trade, the Qing could at best modernize--at least militarily by the 1880s. Other factors could modernize if lucky by the 1940s. Realistically speaking? The 1960s sounds about right.
In other words, the time of OTL Tongzhi Restoration.
How could China have had a more successful Tongzhi Restoration?
How could China have had an earlier Tongzhi Restoration?
 
In other words, the time of OTL Tongzhi Restoration.
How could China have had a more successful Tongzhi Restoration?
How could China have had an earlier Tongzhi Restoration?
Cixi doesn't change her political views/allows Prince Gong to direct reforms. Hong Xiuquan dies of sickness.
 
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