When you lay down your weapons, Westerners will trample over the law and play with you; when you take up arms, Westerners will take up the law and talk to you about a rule-of-law society.
Take, for instance, the free trade vigorously promoted by England, the premise of which is equal status. Otherwise, it will only lead to the exploitation of the lower-status by those with higher status.
England turned Singapore into a free port, while also promoting free trade policies, gathering Southeast Asia's raw products in Singapore to be transported to England and its colonies.
Then, they would ship British industrial goods to Singapore, which were then distributed to other areas of Southeast Asia for sale; trade is free, but you have no options.
The continuous expansion of Jiuding has seriously affected England's interests in the Far East. After all, it's about competing for the market—a bite more for you is a bite less for me.
