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Face in late imperial China's diplomacy with the United States: Minister Cui Guoyin's approach to Chinese exclusion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 August 2022

Tao Zhang
Tao Zhang*
Affiliation:
Sichuan International Studies University, Shapingba, Chongqing, China
*
Author for correspondence: Tao Zhang, E-mail: 997422859@qq.com
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Abstract

As the Chinese minister to the United States between 1889 and 1893, Cui Guoyin faced unprecedented pressures from the Qing government to achieve an alleviation of Chinese exclusion. However, American discrimination against Chinese escalated despite his tireless effort to stem it. The failure made him frustrated and especially sensitive to the issue of face. While finding it a useful tool to exonerate himself, Cui believed that face could also be helpful to Chinese bargaining with the United States over immigration. He incorporated this belief into his exchanges with the U.S. Department of State. At Cui's suggestion or at least agreeing with him, the Zongli Yamen referred to America's reputation as a pressure for concessions in its communications with the U.S. legation in Beijing as well. Such “weaponization” of face represents both an often ignored backward turn in late Qing's diplomatic mentality and the limit of its diplomatic leverage with the United States.

Keywords

Chinese exclusiondiplomacyfaceQingthe United States
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Asian Studies , Volume 20 , Issue 2 , July 2023 , pp. 423 - 438
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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