Not to be outdone by Reinsch, the Japanese played on China’s demand for international respect. Nishihara encouraged China to make substantial demands of the Europeans, including a ten-year suspension of the indemnity imposed after the suppression of the Boxer rebellion, permission to establish a viable tax base for the Chinese national government by raising customs tariffs, as well as the right to station units of the Chinese Army in the territory of the foreign Legation for the duration of war. Furthermore, unlike his American rivals, Nishihara had the means to deliver on his promises.
