Research On Zhang Zhidong’s Actions During The Sino-France War

Zhang Zhidong was a celebrity in the modern China. When he was one of the Qingliu, he concerned with politics. Before the outbreaks of Sino-French War, he had concerned about the impact on China from French aggressions. He had expressed his opinions in his letter towards the emperor in which he analyzed the situation of Sino-France War actively. He advocated fighting against French aggression and protecting Vietnam. These attitudes were so different from others. When he was appointed the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, he had think about how to resist France. He tried his best to construct coast defense to support war situation in Vietnam, provided financial aid to Black Flag Army and battlefields in Taiwan.In the beginning of the Sino-French Negotiations on Vietnam, Zhang Zhidong committed to the protection of Vietnam, which is different from the certain sum of officials to avoid war.As the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, Zhang Zhidong do our best to plan the strategic layout, proposed a series of operational plan and personally involved, which is different from the officials who dread to avoid war with some empty words. Although some advocates of Zhang Zhi-Dong’s is not comprehensive enough, but from what he had conducted and contributed, we can say Zhang Zhidong was a capable person who intervene the Vietnam, a major official who worked cautiously and actively during the Sino-France War.