China’s Diplomacy over the Northeast (English shop)

Ideologies, Thoughts and Values, 1858 - 1919

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This book explores the formation of modern Chinese diplomacy by examining
how classical Chinese philosophy influenced diplomatic responses to
foreign encroachments in Northeast China or Manchuria during the historical
period from the signing of the Treaty of Aigun in 1858 to China’s
participation in the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. Drawing primarily on
Qing dynasty and Beiyang government diplomatic archives and classical
Chinese historiography, it highlights the role of Confucian-based principles
in shaping the diplomatic thinking of the Qing dynasty and Beiyang governments.
Through a top-down, state-centric analysis, the research suggests
that these traditional Chinese cultural values provided a distinct intellectual
and theoretical framework for modern Chinese leaders, guiding diplomatic
decisions amid foreign incursions and modernisation pressures. It
underscores the lasting impact of China’s traditional cultural knowledge on
its diplomatic evolution, particularly in resolving the so-called “Northeast
Question.”