The years 1868 to 1882, beginning with the Burlingame Treaty and ending with the implementation of Chinese exclusion, were pivotal in shaping a reorientation of Chinese diplomatic policy, both toward the West in general, and the United States in particular. Among the most important developments of this era were the inauguration of overseas education missions, the awakening of Chinese officials to the plight of the overseas Chinese, and the establishment of the first Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in modern times.;A central figure in all of these developments was the Chinese official Ch'en Lan-pin. Generally overlooked by scholars in favor of his colleague (and later, bitter enemy), the flamboyant American educated Yung Wing (Jung Hung), Ch'en has heretofore been considered a reactionary foil for the "progressive" Yung. However, utilizing methodology based on the "China-centered" approach of Paul Cohen, this study examines Ch'en's role within the context of the foreign policy goals of the Tsungli Yamen, Li Hung-chang, and various yang wu ("foreign affairs") officials. Here his activities as Education Commissioner in America, head of a commission to investigate Chinese labor conditions in Cuba, Minister to the United States, Spain, and Peru, and advocate of western technology, show not only a more important role in this new outward-looking foreign policy than previously supposed, but one consonant with the "self-strengthening" ideal of "Chinese studies for the base, Western studies for practical use."
展开▼
