These waifan were fully subjected to and governed by the Qing government and were considered part of the China (Zhongguo), unlike wàiguó (外國, "outer/foreign countries") like Korea, Vietnam, and the Ryukyus, who paid tribute to the Qing but were not part of China.
Disse waifan var helt underkastet og styret af Qing-regeringen og blev betragtet som en del af Kina (中國; Zhongguo), i modsætning til wàiguó (外國,) , det vil sige "ydre lande" som Korea, Vietnam, og Ryukyu-øerne, der betalte tribut-skat til Qing, men ikke var en del af Kina.