The Influence Of Xue Fu-cheng's Diplomatic Experience On His Diplomatic Ideas

The opium war drew open the curtain of modern China. Driven by the western big powers, China stepped over the threshold of the modern society in a hurry. Sharp changes between the relationships of China and the Western countries, and the social formation took place. Social being determines the social consciousness. Under such historical background, many an outstanding theologist and diplomatist came into being. Xue Fu-cheng was just one of them. Xue Fu-cheng was a famous initial reformer and one of the four diplomatist elites in late Qing dynasty. He was an assistant of Zeng Guo-fan and Li Hong-zhang for as long as twenty years. Later, he was sent to England, France, Italy and Belgium on a diplomatic mission for nearly four years. During that very period, he dealt with many routine matters concerning foreign affairs, and retrieved partial rights and interests for China. He had rich diplomatic experience that helped him form his rich diplomatic ideas, and most of his ideas was formed and developed during the periods. His knowledge and experience abroad made him more distinctly analyse and contrast the differences between China and the west, get a clear understanding of all kinds of problems of the Qing dynasty, and find the rational and advanced experience of the western countries, which made him personally understand the application of the international regulations and practice. This thesis will discuss the influence of Xue's diplomatic career on the development of his diplomatic ideas from three parts.Firstly, Xue's diplomatic experience and the perfections of ideas to set up consulates and safeguard the overseas Chinese. On the way of his diplomatic mission, his knowledge and experience strengthened his resolve to widely set up consulates. He analyse all-sidedly the necessity and all kinds of difficulties of setting up consulates and safeguarding the overseas Chinese. In view of the difficulties, he put forward the tactics and plans for setting the consulates to the Qing Government. And thus he formed his ideas finally.Secondly, getting a deeper understanding to the modern international law. During the periods of Xue's diplomatic mission, after the made representations for setting up consulate in Hong Kong and the religious incidents is Chang Jiang River basin, Xue accumulated a wealth of diplomatic experience. He had an all-round understanding of the international public law, knew its effects and limitations and saw clearly its essence. Because of the decline of our national power, Xue maintained that only according to the international public law, can we safeguard the interests of our country to a certain extent.Finally, proposing setting up the modern diplomatic systems. On his diplomatic mission to the four western countries, Xue often met with many heads of states, diplomatic envoys and ministers. He gradually understood the short comings of Qing government's diplomatic systems, which was not in keeping with the world trends. So Xue maintained that the Qing government should reform the presentation etiquette of the diplomatic envoys and improve the selection system of the diplomatic personnel. Xue made a great contribution to the setting up of the modern diplomatic systems of China.