试论洋务派主张“和戎”外交原因

Causal Analysis of the Westerniztion Group's "Peace with the West"

曾国藩等洋务派主张"和戎"外交政策是因为洋人武器强于中国,清政府无力与众列强抗衡,无力同时应付内忧外患,同时"和戎"也是"自强"的内在必要。他们认为,"和戎"外交政策虽会给中国带来一些的损害,但在"和戎"外交政策所带来的"和局"情况下,中国可以获得一定的生存与发展空间,并最终实现民族独立和强盛,因此这是中国唯一可行的外交政策。

Zeng Guofan and the Westernization Group advocated the diplomatic policy of ＂Peace with the West＂ because the Qing Government, with the weapons inferior to the western ones, was neither able m contend against the wcatcm powers nor competent to deal with domestic and foreign aggression. They considered that it was internally necessary to have ＂Peace with the West＂ for the ＂self-improvement. ＂ In their view, although the ＂Peace with the West＂ policy could bring some damage to China, under the peaceful situation it brought about, China could gain some space for its survival and development and ultimately realize the national independence and prosperity. Hence the only feasible foreign policy for China at that time.