Relations between China and the West continued to be strained and erupted with the Tientsin Massacre in 1870. China was a dangerous place for westerners as they tried to influence with religion, politics or military action, with distrust and resentment ever present. Events such as the Margary Affair sparked off new disagreements and exercising of power.

In 1876, Korea and Japan signed the Treaty of Kanghwa, opening up trade between the two countries.