What led to the boxer rebellion? the europeans refused to purchase chinese exports of opium, which led the empress dowager to close china's borders and caused riots. the open door policy led many nations to carve out spheres of influence in china, which blamed the imperialists. the great game between russia and great britain put china at the center of european conflict, which caused resentment. the chinese rulers resisted european attempts to introduce industrialization in mainland asia, which led the boxers to react?