The besieged diplomatic quarter in Peking could've easily fallen for any number of reasons, ranging from disease, to starvation, to exhausting ammunition supplies, to the Qing soldiers (and Boxers, of course) pressing the offensive at just the right moment.
Now, there's no doubt that the Qing couldn't have beaten off the 8 Nation Alliance's relief column, but what would've been the implications of the Foreign Legations' fall? For sake of simplicity, let's say that everyone in the diplomatic quarter is massacred (whether they be foreigner diplomats/troops/civilians or Chinese Christians who took shelter there). The relief column arrives at Peking in time to find the bodies, but there are no survivors.
What would be the consequences of such an act on the resulting peace settlements/negotiations between the Alliance and the Qing? Would the Open Door Policy of spheres of influence still hold, or would the West begin an aggressive policy of imperialism in China?
edit: ah, shit. this should be in post-1900
Now, there's no doubt that the Qing couldn't have beaten off the 8 Nation Alliance's relief column, but what would've been the implications of the Foreign Legations' fall? For sake of simplicity, let's say that everyone in the diplomatic quarter is massacred (whether they be foreigner diplomats/troops/civilians or Chinese Christians who took shelter there). The relief column arrives at Peking in time to find the bodies, but there are no survivors.
What would be the consequences of such an act on the resulting peace settlements/negotiations between the Alliance and the Qing? Would the Open Door Policy of spheres of influence still hold, or would the West begin an aggressive policy of imperialism in China?
edit: ah, shit. this should be in post-1900