Partnership across the Pacific: Sino–American collaboration in maritime transportation during World War I

Abstract

After the outbreak of WWI, the urgent demand for shipping troops and war materials led to a shortage of warships and civilian steamships. The subsequent German unrestricted submarine warfare further reduced the number of ships at sea. As a result, shipbuilding became a booming wartime industry. Due to their common need, the United States and China struck several deals and forged partnerships during the war. The cooperation between the two sides involved not only the private sector and exchanges of technology, but also diplomacy. These interactions demonstrated China’s intent to take advantage of a relatively friendly United States, in order to expand China’s shipping business across the Pacific and to show off its new shipbuilding industry. The interactions were also an attempt by the United States to increase its influence in China and East Asia by participating in commercial and maritime shipping aspects of China’s industrialization. When the Jiangnan (Kiangnan) Dock received American contracts, China as a member of the Allied nations in effect contributed to the war against Germany.