Adjustment Of U.s. Policy Toward China And Chiang Confluence (1900-1928)

The United States, after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, frequently adjusts her policy toward China in order to seek for the agent of her interests in China while she is coordinating her interests in China with those of the other colonists. This is stated in the thesis, and the influences it has on the relationship between China and America are also touched off. Simultaneously, the author tentatively investigates, from the angle of America, the macroscopic strategies that America takes to adjust to the relationship between her and China and the practical and realistic convention reflected in America diplomacy. The thesis is focused on the analysis of the reasons that America picks Chiang Kai-Shek as her agent to seek her interests in China and the role that"Lai Case"plays in the adjustment of American policy to China.The Open Door Policy is an important policy of America government. America begins to seek the interests in Pacific area when she finishes the expansion in North America in the middle of 19th century. In the late 1850s, one of the important figures of the Democratic Party, named William Sword, put forward the quite complete idea of"Pacific Ocean Commercial Empire". Half a century later the idea is fulfilled in terms of policy toward China--- the Open Door Policy is advocated and carried out. At the end of 19th century, Imperialist countries raise the wave of carving up China. It makes an opportunity for America to fulfill the policy. The advocating of the policy marks that American policy toward China has been turned to policy of a big independent country from the following of British policy, and sufficiently reflects that America intends to take the leadership on the political stage of the Far East and open her way to the hegemony there. The Open Door Policy frames the system of the new colonialism.Seeking interests in China is the key point for America to fulfill her hegemony in the Far East. However, America is a late comer to carve up China, so she has to find an agent in China in order to have a stable position in China and gain the most possible interests from China. Against the background of the competition between so many colonists in China and the wave of Chinese protestation against imperialism and feudalism, how to find an appropriate agent from the political power full of crisis becomes a big problem of American policy toward China at that time. Americans of all circles have various views on it and understand it differently. They pay close attention to Chinese situation of disorder in their different positions and from different points of view, and, for the sake of their own interests, warn the government to make and adjust the policy toward China after the careful observation of the real situation. Therefore, the study on the different understanding and views that Americans of all circles have on Chinese situation at that time is very significant for us to discuss the formulation and adjustment of American policy toward China in that period. The taking-place and resolution of"Lai Case"in 1927 makes America get what she want by Chiang Kai-Shek. From then on, American government turns to supporting the political power of Chiang Kai-Shek, the representative of the bourgeoisie, from the power of Peking. Thus Chiang Kai-Shek finally becomes the agent who fulfills the Open Door Policy in China for America.By investigating and analyzing the historical data, the collection of different understanding and opinions on Chinese situation at that time from American government, all circles and Americans in China, the author discusses fully Americans'attitudes toward China in a historical materialistic way by comparison, synthesis and induction in terms of the economic interest, political outlook, national consciousness, etc.. The interest contradiction between America and the other colonists in China is also touched off as the international situation.The thesis deals with the background of the adjustment of American policy toward China in the 1920s, that is, the process of America's looking for her best agent in China in order to fulfill her Open Door Policy and gain long-term interests in China after the policy is put forward. With the realistic attitude, America tries to find a"strong powerful"person in China who could be taken advantage of in China, from Yuan Shikai to Wu Peifu, and then Chiang Kai-Shek, and at last makes an agreement of cooperation with Chiang Kai-Shek after investigation, observation and consideration through seducing, roping in, and compliance, along with armed threat sometimes. The analysis of"Lai case", in particular, shows the reasons that Chiang Kai-Shek turned out to be the agent of America's interests in China, and the role"Lai Case"plays in the process of adjustment of American policy toward China.In conclusion, pursuing the biggest and long-term interests in China and trying to take the leadership among all the colonists in China are the main target and cardinal purpose of American policy-makers from the beginning to the end. Frequent adjustment of the policy toward China and looking for her best agent in China is the very effort she makes to reach the goal. It is proved that the Open Door Policy is the manifestation of new colonialism policy at early stage carried out in China.