China was not colonized by European powers like many other countries in Africa and Asia during the era of European colonialism. However, China did experience periods of foreign influence and control, such as the following:
1. British Colonial Influence: During the 19th century, the British established control over certain areas in China, particularly through the Opium Wars. Hong Kong, for example, was ceded to the British as a result of the Treaty of Nanking in 1842.
2. Other Foreign Powers: Other European powers and Japan also established spheres of influence and concessions in China during this period, where they had control or special privileges in certain regions. These powers included France, Germany, Russia, and Japan.
The primary purposes for foreign involvement in China were economic, political, and territorial gain. They sought to extract resources, establish trade, and exert influence over various parts of China. This era of foreign control and influence eventually led to social and political upheaval, including the Boxer Rebellion, and played a role in the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China in 1912.