Pacific strife: the great powers and their political and economic rivalries in Asia and the Western Pacific 1870-1914

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, colonial powers clashed over much of Central and East Asia: Great Britain and Germany fought over New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, Fiji, and Samoa; France and Great Britain competed over control of continental Southwest Asia; and the United States annexed the Philippines and Hawaii. Meanwhile, the possible disintegration of China and Japan's growing nationalism added new dimensions to the rivalries.

Surveying these and other international developments in the Pacific basin during the three decades preceding World War I, Kees van Dijk traces the emergence of superpowers during the colonial race and analyzes their conduct as they struggled for territory. Extensive in scope, 'Pacific Strife' is a fascinating look at a volatile moment in history.

"Van Dijk's work will richly reward readers of nearly any interest level." -J. Rogers in Choice Magazine

Steam and Istmus canals -- Planters, traders and labour in the South Pacific -- Fiji: the start of Anglo-German rivalry in the Pacific -- The Somoa conflict -- Germany enters the colonial race -- The New Guinea protectorates -- Great Britain, Russia and the Central Asian question -- Samoa remains a source of international tension -- The emerging economic world powers -- Great Britain, France and Southeast Asia -- The French-expansion westwards into Southeast Asia -- Russia, Japan and the Chinese empire -- Thailand and beyond -- The scramble for China: the Bay of Jiaozhou and Port Arthur -- The British reaction: Wei-Hai-Wei -- The scramble for China continues: Guangzhouwan and Tibet -- The failed annexation of Hawaii -- The United States becomes a colonial empire -- The partition of Samoa -- The Russo-Japanese war -- Great Britain's search for secure colonial frontiers -- The United States, Japan and the Pacific Ocean -- Epilogue

Cover -- Contents -- Foreword -- 1. Steam and Istmus Canals -- 2. Rivalries in the Western Pacific -- In search of new markets and political influence -- The great Russian-French combination -- China's Open Doors -- Great Britain's search for an ally -- 3. Planters, Traders and Labour in the South Pacific -- The ocean of the future -- The white settlers -- Labour traffic -- Commerce and politics -- Conflicts over land -- Policing the Pacific -- 4. Fiji: The Start of Anglo-German Rivalry in the Pacific -- Germany's ambitions -- The reign of King Cakobau -- The aftermath of annexation -- 5. The Samoa Conflict -- An American takes control -- Weber goes on the offensive -- 6. Germany Enters the Colonial Race -- Australian claims and fears -- The Moresby annexation -- Bismarck's Reichstag debacle -- The New Guinea expedition -- The Queensland annexation -- 7. The New Guinea Protectorates -- The hoisting of German flags -- The hoisting of British flags -- Australian astonishment and indignation -- New negotiations and hoisting of flags -- A different style of diplomacy -- The Anglo-German colonial honeymoon -- The wider South Pacific -- 8. Great Britain, Russia and the Central Asian Question -- Persia and Afghanistan and the threat to India -- Russian moves and British countermoves -- 9. Samoa Remains a Source of International Tension -- Germany presses on -- The Tonga Islands -- Civil war in Samoa -- 10. The Emerging Economic World Powers -- Germany's world politics -- America's large policy -- Asia for the Asians -- Building strong navies -- The American-Japanese naval race -- 11. Great Britain, France and Southeast Asia -- The French military expeditions to Tonkin -- The end of the Kingdom of Ava -- 12. The French Expansion Westwards into Southeast Asia -- The Franco-Thai war -- Continued British-French rivalry -- The Anglo-French Declaration.