Book Description

This thesis examines the manner in which the British government formulated and implemented its China policy in response to the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949. A related theme considered is the way in which a newly formed revolutionary state conducts its diplomacy with a well established member of international society. -- The problems of policy-formulation and implementation, and three policy Issues are examined in three parts. Part I examines the general background, discusses the nature of the policy-making elites, and explains how Britain's decision to recognise the new Chinese government was formulated. Part II examines the nature of the Anglo-Chinese talks concerning the establishment of official diplomatic relations and how the two sides eventually established formal relations after four years of negotiations. The policy issues dealt with in Part III are the problem of Chinese representation in the United Nations, British commercial interests in China, and British interests in Southeast Asia. -- In addition to providing a detailed account of the formulation and implementation of Britain's China policy, the study highlights the importance of policy implementation in foreign policy decision-making. It also argues that the PRC in its formative years was seeking entry to and not a repudiation of international society. Britain was prepared to establish relations with the PRC and to accept it as a member of the established international society, but its perceived interests in the special relationship with the US prevented a successful Implementation of that policy.