China having claimed control of Taiwan in 1683, the Qing government has become open to encouraging foreign trade.

Guangzhou has quickly emerged as one of the most adaptable ports for negotiating commerce and before long, many foreign ships are coming here to procure cargos.

Portuguese in Macau, Spanish in Manila, and Armenians and Muslims from India are already actively trading in the port by the 1690s, when the French and English British East India Company's ships begin frequenting the port.

China in 1693 concentrates all its foreign trade to Guangzhou, forbidding European ships to land anywhere else.