Final answer:
The United States protected its commercial interests in China by implementing the Open Door Policy through diplomatic efforts led by Secretary of State John Hay and economic strategies that ensured access to Chinese markets without territorial control.
Step-by-step explanation:
Besides the Open Door Policy, the United States protected its commercial interests in China through various diplomatic and economic strategies. By urging China to engage in trade with all countries on equal terms, Secretary of State John Hay ensured that American businesses could access the vast Chinese market without the need for territorial control.
This approach allowed the U.S. to compete freely in the Chinese marketplace, capitalizing on the production of higher-quality and lower-cost goods than other nations, all while avoiding the complications of colonial administration that many anti-imperialists opposed.
Further efforts included the establishment of the American Asiatic Association in 1896, encouraging greater trade opportunities in China, and navigating international relations carefully to maintain a presence in the region.
The United States negotiation of the Open-Door notes underscored its intent to maintain free access to all treaty ports in China, thus giving American businesses a competitive edge. Moreover, diplomatic overtures such as President Nixon's visit to China in 1972 opened additional avenues for American businesses in a market that eventually became critical to global trade.