On Zhou Enlai's Southeast Asian Foreign Policy (1949-1965)

The People's Republic of China was established in the context of a drastically changing and extremely tense international situation.Internally,China was facing the enormous challenges of restoring and developing the national economy,consolidating the rule of the Communist Party of China,resisting the threat of western powers and maintaining social stability.Internationally,China was dealing with the blockade coming from capitalist camp led by United states and the maintenance of national independent position.Under the complicated domestic and international circumstance,a peaceful and stable neighboring country relationship is essential to the development of China.Among all the neighboring counties relations,because of the geographical and historical factors,the diplomatic relations with Southeast Asian countries have a significant strategic position.Therefore,during the early days of the nation,the Chinese Government attached great importance to diplomatic relations with Southeast Asia.Due to historical problems and the complicated international situation,coupled with the different national conditions,China and Southeast Asian countries had strong contradictions which is represented by national boundary problem,local revolutionary problem and overseas Chinese problem.The bilateral relation contradiction,represented by the three major issues,had become the main barrier of diplomatic relations between China and Southeast Asia,and it aroused great attention from Zhou Enlai.On the basis of careful study of historical data,inquiries on international laws and regulations,and consultant from relevant experts,Zhou Enlai actively visited Southeast Asian countries and met national leaders and had peace talks on the existing problems.In terms of the national boundary issue,Zhou Enlai used the border issue between China and Myanmar as a typical example to demonstrate how to solve it peacefully and rationally under guidance of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.This demonstration became a good reference for solving national boundary issues between China and other countries and even in worldwide.On the one hand,Zhou Enlai was committed to eliminating the doubts of Southeast Asian countries on China;on the other hand,he firmly supported the national independence of Asian countries.The resolutely opposition to the "export revolution" enhanced the friendship between New China and Southeast Asia.At the same time,Zhou Enlai used the prohibition of dual nationality as a breakthrough to solve the problem of overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia,and signed "double nationality treaty" with Indonesia where had the most oversea Chinese,which indicated the prohibition of double nationality in China.In terms of the overseas Chinese,Zhou Enlai attached great importance to the maintenance of their legitimate rights and interests,and called on the overseas Chinese to comply with local laws and regulations.The process of solving the three prominent problems is also the process of the formation and development of Zhou Enlai's foreign policy on Southeast Asia.He has created a lot of feats,created a lot of precedent,and proved to the world that countries with different ideology can still peacefully resolve international disputes,China has always been committed to the practice of world peace,and China is a brilliant example of diplomatic activities around the world.