Naboka A. Taiwan and Great Britain policy in the Far East in 20 - 90s of the XIXth century

The thesis is devoted to a complex study of British foreign policy concerning Taiwan in 20 - 90s of the XIXth century. The character of the policy is examined, its stages and evolution are traced. The main attention of the thesis is given to the study of the peculiarities of formation of Great Britain foreign course concerning Taiwan. It reveals the balance of powers and the nature of struggle of British ruling and trade circles to the question of Taiwan's occupation. The thesis analyses the part of the parliament and the press in this process and distinguishes the main steps of British policy concerning Taiwan. In the first stage (20-50s of the XIXth century) English trade circles made persistent attempts to occupy Taiwan, trying to draw the Whitehall to the realization of this idea. The point of the second stage, continued from 1858 to 1895, became the struggle for the economic supremacy in Taiwan, which was open for English trade after the end of the second "opium" war. However, despite its successful policy, Britain still had to retract its claims. Making concessions to Japan, which the Whitehall was planning to use for solving prior tasks concerning foreign policy, British ruling circles supported its intentions to occupy the island in 1895