On December 15th, the hashtag “Complete Collection of Qing Dynasty Treaties Off Shelves” surged to the top trending spot on Weibo. It was reported that the “Complete Collection of Qing Dynasty Treaties” was officially published by the Heilongjiang People’s Publishing House in 1999, including photocopies and a three-volume set, with Tian Tao as the chief editor, renowned in the academic field for his research on Qing Dynasty history and unequal treaties.
According to online sources, from December 14th to 15th, the “Complete Collection of Qing Dynasty Treaties” was observed to have been collectively removed from major e-commerce platforms such as Taobao, Jingdong, and Pinduoduo, sparking widespread speculation and controversy regarding the motive behind the control of historical documents.
Online user on Zhihu expressed, “The ‘Complete Collection of Qing Dynasty Treaties’ was officially published by the Heilongjiang People’s Publishing House, including the photocopy in January 1999 and the full three-volume set in June 1999. Come on, it’s a book from 25 years ago. Even if there are copies still being sold, they are likely second-hand, from library stocks, or collector’s editions.”
On December 15th, a post on Netease account “The Shadow of Life” stated that the photocopy version of the “Complete Collection of Qing Dynasty Treaties” was removed from e-commerce platforms by some sellers upon requests for electronic versions, indicating that it was no longer allowed to be sold.
Several screenshots circulated online showing sellers mentioning that the book was taken down, while one vendor on Pinduoduo was selling the electronic version of the book and indicated that this method was no longer allowed.
A search on Dangdang, a Chinese online bookstore, revealed that only three sellers, namely Runxuan Bookstore, Yinghui Bookstore, and Hebei Boku Bookstore, displayed the book, but at significantly inflated prices of 6980 yuan, 2900 yuan, and 8500 yuan respectively, with some lacking the option to purchase. In contrast, most other books related to the Qing Dynasty were priced below 10 yuan, with easy checkout options.
Video blogger and Weibo influencer “Zhao Zheng-Comrade” posted screenshots questioning the sudden disappearance of the “Complete Collection of Qing Dynasty Treaties” from multiple platforms, raising suspicions of coordinated actions.
Another Weibo influencer, “Xu Observations,” commented, “Why take it down? This feels very nonsensical and speechless.”
In a similar vein, video blogger and Weibo influencer “Tian Dao Wukong_” posed a question, “How did the ‘Complete Collection of Qing Dynasty Treaties’ suddenly vanish from e-commerce platforms overnight? Was it selling too well? The Qing Dynasty treaties were not only with major powers but also with ‘weaker countries’ like Congo, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, which is what people find intriguing. The removal from e-commerce platforms might actually trigger a surge in demand for the electronic version. And why did Russia dispatch a Lama during the Chakutu Treaty?”
Netizens voiced mixed opinions with one stating, “I wasn’t interested before, but now are they forcing everyone to know about it? Thank the internet age; they can take down physical copies but not my cloud storage.”
There were divided opinions among netizens regarding the removal of the book, with some emphasizing the importance of making historical information accessible to the public, while others highlighted the specific treaties signed with neighboring countries, particularly Russia.
An analysis by Zhihu user “Mr. Lin” suggested that the sudden removal of the treaties could unveil political maneuvers, pointing out the delicate balance of historical treaties between the Qing Dynasty and various countries, especially Russia.
It should be clarified based on historical records that the territorial agreements between China and Russia have evolved over the centuries, including the signing of various treaties such as the Nerchinsk Treaty in 1689, the Beijing Treaty in 1860, the Sino-Soviet Treaty in 1945, and the China-Russia Cooperation Treaty in 2001, leading to the transfer of territories like Vladivostok.
In conclusion, the removal of the “Complete Collection of Qing Dynasty Treaties” from online platforms has ignited a debate on the preservation and accessibility of historical documents, shedding light on the complex historical relations and treaties that have shaped the geopolitical landscape over the years.