The Culture Conflicting In Sino-french Negotiation About Vietnam Issue

The Sino-French war is an important event in modern history of China, is also a major event for Sino-Vietnam relations. Before and after the Sino-French War, China and France have started a series of diplomatic activities over Vietnam's sovereignty, status and other issues, which include peace talks versus force's dispute; public fight versus underground battle; face to face debate versus distance control; self-presented talks versus delegate's negotiation. All kind of means are used, but not enough.Diplomacy is an integral part of the country's political, its means and principles reflect the power of a country and cultural values. This paper is mainly researching on Sino-French diplomatic activities over Vietnam, analyzing the dynamic process of cultural impacting, rubbing and conflicting between Eastern and Western in morden history,discussing the developing process and the influencing factors of the Suzerain-Vassal relations between China and Vietnam from the cultural aspect.The Suzerain-Vassal relations between China and Vietnam are based on the recognition of Confucian culture and its values, it is an extension of the traditional Chinese Confucianism. During the establishing process of the vassal relations, Confucian culture has played an important role.From Qin and Han Dynasty, Confucian culture prevailed from the central plains to the edge regions, which promoted the civilization of Vietnam, and increased loyalty to the central plains dynasty; From North Song Dynasty, Confucian cuture became the foundation for Vietnam's founding, the Suzerain-Vassal relations between China and Vietnam established, tributary system reached its peak; Before Sino-French War, tributary and canonization became more and more frequently, which consolidated the Suzerain-Vassal relationship and combined the two countries to fight against France.The French culture is derived from the ancient Greek and Roman cultural, which belongs to the Western cultural system, it is obvious different from Eastern Confucian culture. Along with communications increased between the East and the West, the cultural impacting and rubbing frequently occurred.Under the wave of colonization in modern capitalism, France take Vietnam as the object of its aggression and expansion. In 19th century 60's, France occupied the South of Vietnam.When in the 70's, French forced Vietnam to sign "peaceful alliance treaty between French and Vietnam" by forces, denied the Suzerain-Vassal relations. Then France sent troops to the North ,in order to invade the whole Vietnam and establish the Protectorate State system, take Vietnam as a springboard to invade the Southwest of China. Vietnam was on the state of emergency,the old Suzerain-Vassal relations were in the edge of danger. As for the repeating help from Vietnam, Qing Government began to negotiate with France in order to protect tributary.Before and after the Sino-French War, the negotiation between China and France is focused on Vietnam's sovereignty and status, the consecutive cultural conflicting mainly reflected on Suzerain-Vassal system and the Protectorate State system. In addition , hierarchical inclusion and sovereign equality, peace first and interests first, also contributed to the Sino-French cultural conflicting. As for the issue of Vietnam, Sino-French cultural conflicting reflects as a dynamic process. Which starts from two culture's impacting, which results in rubbing, then widens conflicting. Therefore, diplomatic activity is difficult to be engaged between China and French.There are so many disputes in their negotiating tables, strife openly and secretly, and then influence the war and politics between China and French.Under the Suzerain-Vassal relations, Qing Dynasty, as a "premier nation", conld not consider the downfall of dependency tributary as nothing. In the case of declining, Qing government tended to support the "Hei-Qi Jun" to resist French in order to protect tributary indirectly.Then, at the invitation of the Vietnamese Government,Qing Government sent troops into Vietnam by the name of "Suppress Bandits". The beginning of negotiation between France and China was Rochechouart's Note in 1875.A series of negotiations continued, included negotiations between Li-HongZhang and Bourée , Tricou , Fournier , Paten?tre.Without exception, all are related to cultural conflicting. Cultural conflicting intensified, wars occurred ups and downs, which means the war couldn't eliminate the cultural conflicting.In the end, China and France signed "Sino-France New Convention",France occupied the whole of Vietnam and ended the Suzerain-Vassal relations. To the further, this political, diplomatic and military struggle results from the conflicting and contesting between East and West culture.