Competitin and Symbiosis:The Contest for the Trade of Edible Bird's Nests in Southeast Asia between the Mid-19 th Century and the First Half of the 20th Century
The historical examination on the contest for the trade of edible bird's nests among the European colonists,the Southeast Asian natives and the Chinese merchants reveals that the European colonists,who were backed by military force,exploited conflicts among the Southeast Asian natives to seize or divide ownership of caves of edible bird's nests after the mid-19th century,thereby gaining significant advantages in the trade of edible bird's nests.Although the Southeast Asian natives suffered the impairment of benefit severely caused by the European colonists,they still obtained certain economic rights from the foreign trade of edible bird's nests by virtue of geographic advantages and collection technology.While affected by the arrival of the European colonists,the Chinese merchants retained a stronghold in the trade of edible bird's nests,which was achieved by monopolising trade operations,including tax-farming arrangements,the establishment of business networks with local communities,effective commercial practices,and unique industry-specific expertise.By consolidating tax contracts with inland long-distance transport,they secured a prominent role in the trade of edible bird's nests,transitioning from a traditional role linking China with Southeast Asia to a new intermediary between the colonists and the natives.Although three parties engaged in competition,they were interdependent,embodying a complex tripartite relationship of competition and symbiosis in the trade of edible bird's nests.
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