The nineteenth century was a turbulent time for Western imperialism and a major shift in Asian power. European powers and the United States have had a destabilizing effect on the region, and the choices made by Japan and China in response to their massive expansion have contributed significantly to the trajectory of their respective futures. Social factors, such as differences in national and religious unity, also played a role in how the two nations emerged from the era of imperialism. European trade with China has historically been limited. In 1793, the Qianlong Emperor denied King George III's request to ease trade restrictions by declaring, "Our Celestial Empire possesses all things in prolific abundance... There was therefore no need to import the artifacts of the external barbarians." (Qianlong qtd in Strayer 882) . This restrictive trade policy remained in place until the reluctant signing of the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. By the 1830s, illegal British imports of opium into China had increased from 1,000 to more than 23,000, at the expense of millions of Chinese citizens addicted to the substance. (Strayer, 885). In response to the growing problem of addiction, the ban on opium imports was deemed inadequate to protect Chinese interests, leading the government to ban opium altogether in 1836. Indifferent to the new law, British traders and Chinese drug addicts continued to conduct business. as usual because the corrupt Chinese officials were happy as long as they received their share of the money. The opium trade led to three distinct problems in China. First, the huge number of dependent citizens was a detriment to the country. Furthermore, China was losing the silver supplies it had accumulated in recent years… and was not pursuing a program to protect itself from European interests. Japan, on the other hand, chose to take its time, learn from its oppressors, and use that knowledge to free itself from its shackles. Furthermore, Japan successfully initiated an industrial revolution that granted them a high degree of economic freedom, while China experienced an economic collapse with no means to stimulate production. China did not realize that it needed to change with a changing world until it was too late and it suffered the consequences of its own arrogance. Japan chose to embrace the ideals that led to Western success and reaped the benefits of that decision. Works Cited Strayer, Douglas. Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2011. 877-903. Print.Ch'ing China: The Opium Wars. Richard Hooker, 1999. Web. 2 July. 2011.