Li Hung Chang And The Economic Sovereignt Of Modern China (1870-1895)

The economic sovereignty has becoming a very popular topic in the domestic and international academic circles in recent years , but the current range of research limit at the realms, such as international law and international economic law etc, and concentrate on time at contemporary, This thesis chooses Li Hung Chang's indeed as a individual case for making a trial to the economic sovereignty research of modern China in which rare research has been done.Before 1870s, Li Hung Chang had less definite economic sovereignty idea in spite of his many contact with foreign affairs and foreign economic business. However,after 1870s, facing the Chinese economic sovereignty loses in great quantities, the importation of western modern international law to China and the influence of his friends and associates, Li Hung Chang had clear economic sovereignty idea gradually in the practice of diplomacy and the Yangwu Movement. Its content mainly includes the steamer, mines, railroad, telegram etc. is Chinese sovereignty or independent powers, protecting the benefit power and taking back benefit power .Li Hung Chang 's economic sovereignty practices mainly concentrated on two aspects of diplomacy and economy. In diplomacy, to some extent ,Li Hung Chang obstructed the Euro-American great powers to violate to the Chinese economic sovereignty by diplomatic negotiation . On the economy, Li Hung Chang, boycotted the Euro-American great powers to violate to the Chinese economic sovereignty by the establishment of the modern civil enterprise. In addition , Li Hung Chang bought the overseas-funded enterprises.Totally , Li Hung Chang 's economic sovereignty idea is in the very first step, mostly concrete, less clear concept, and no theories origins . Li Hung Chang's measure to save the economic sovereignty is very limited in the actual result as well.However, Li Hung Chang's practice did not change the total trend of China's economic sovereignty losses. its reason is:the huge difference between China and Western countries in politics, economy and military power; the corrupt Qing government that the ability of safeguarging the economic sovereignty was low; The unequal treaties system had already established and was unchangeable in a short time; the actual result of the Yangwu Movemen was limited, can not change the total trend that the Qing government gradually falled off;the limit of Li Hung Chang 's character .In spite of that, We should evalue Li Hung Chang and his practice in safeguarging China's economic sovereignty objectively, historically and scientifically.