France's Blockade And China's Strategy During The Sino-French War

As China's suzerain-vassal system and the French colonial system of confrontation,China and France maintain their respective interests of the struggle,the Sino-French War broke out in the December 1883. Although the two countries signed a peace agreement in the May 1884, the deep-rooted contradictions about North Vietnam still existed. Therefore, Lang Son incident inevitably broke out in the June. In order to obtain compensation, France decided to occupy the land of China as a pledge. French military first bombarded Fuzhou, and then attacked Taipei. As the Qing government's stubborn resistance, France failed to achieve the desired plan. Thus, the French warships began to search the high seas, intercept transport ships carrying food and blockade the port of BeiHai. France gradually gave up the purpose of occupying the land of China,and started to take various means to exert pressure on the Qing government. France's blockade lasted for almost a year, but did not achieve the desired results. During the period, the Qing government had taken many measures, which was just and necessary on the whole.