Abstract

The Sino-Belgian Treaty

The article presents the official statement issued by the Chinese Government in Peking explaining the termination of the Sino-Belgian treaty of 1865. The Chinese Government have repeatedly sought through diplomatic channels and international conferences to put an end to the unequal clauses contained in China's treaties with the Powers which seriously restrict the free exercise of her legitimate rights in such important matters as customs tariff, jurisdiction over foreign nationals, etc. These provisions create unilateral rights and derogate from China's sovereignty, they impede the development of her international relations and hamper her political and economic life. So, the Chinese Government proceeded to terminate, after having given six months' notice in advance, the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation concluded between China and Belgium on November 2, 1865, a treaty which, it may be remarked, belongs to the category of treaties imposed upon China against her free will in the early years of her foreign intercourse and which restricts her sovereign rights.