The Hague Peace Conference And The Internationalization Process Of Chinese Diplomacy(1899-1907)

This article describes the history of China’s two participations in the Hague Peace Conference from 1899 to 1907,and considers it in the historical context of transformations in international relations,demonstrating how China,as a non-Western country,performed in an international society dominated by the West.Before the opening of the Hague Peace Conference,transformations in the world situation have already taken place.The Hague Peace Conference not only has the historical status of coordinating relations between countries,but also provides China opportunity to gain important integration into the international community.This article discusses the transformation of China from passive participation in the conference by invitation at the beginning to initiative participation in the conference.China slowly but surely comprehended the international rules constructed by the West,changed China’s original diplomatic concepts and traditional diplomatic systems,and actively promotes China’s own diplomacy while actively participating in international conferences,striving for more interests and higher international status for the China.The case of China reflects the mindset of both initiative and passive acceptance of non-Western countries when encountering the Western-led international community,and the weak but clear shaping role of non-Western countries to the international community.