1. Opium Wars: The Opium Wars (1839-1842 and 1856-1860) marked a significant turning point in China's relationship with the Western powers. The British Empire forced China to sign unequal treaties, such as the Treaty of Nanking (1842), that granted extraterritorial rights to foreigners, opened Chinese ports to foreign trade, and ceded Hong Kong to the British. These wars heightening animosity between China and the Western powers.
2. Boxer Rebellion: The boxer Rebellion of 1900 was another pivotal event in China's relationship with the West. The rebellion was a violent anti-foreign and anti-Christian uprising by a nationalist movement known as the Boxers. It led to the widespread killing of foreign missionaries and Chinese Christians. In response, the Western powers formed an Eight-Nation Alliance to invade Beijing and suppress the rebellion. The defeat of the Boxers resulted in the signing of the Boxer Protocol, which imposed even harsher terms on China, including increased foreign presence and control over key areas of the country.