British shipping gives the China Station commercial weight

In 1928, British ships accounted for about 27 percent of vessels visiting Shanghai but roughly 32 percent of the tonnage. British tonnage therefore matched the Chinese and Japanese totals combined even though Chinese ships were more numerous. The figures reveal the scale of the commercial shipping interests behind the China Station's patrols and diplomacy. They also help explain why attacks on British vessels or instability around treaty ports drew an immediate naval response. The station's imperial commitment was tied to the practical problem of protecting dense maritime traffic.