China Lobby
Encyclopedia
In United States
politics
, the China lobby refers to any special interest group
acting on behalf of the governments of either the People's Republic of China
or the Republic of China
to influence Sino-American relations
. During most of the twentieth century, the term "China lobby" was usually used to refer to special interest groups acting on behalf of the Republic of China
(ROC). Before American recognition of the People's Republic of China
(PRC) in 1979, the PRC lobby was practically nonexistent; since that time, the PRC lobby has gradually strengthened, and by the 1990s, "China lobby" began usually referring to special interest groups acting on behalf of the PRC. The primary competitor of the China lobby has often been the "other" China lobby, the lobbyists acting on behalf of the other Chinese government.
(KMT) to the opposition Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP). The new DPP-controlled government has had to hire new lobbyists which have not had the long-standing relationships with members of Congress that the KMT lobbyists had. Lobbyists loyal to the KMT remain, and some have actually begun working together with PRC lobbyists to counter DPP lobbyists promoting Taiwanese independence.
Since the 1990s, the PRC lobbyists have had two primary goals: first, the prevention of any further recognition of the ROC government by the American government, and second, the promotion of American policies favorable to the economic development of the PRC.
(which took place simultaneously with World War II
), the China lobby helped convince Congress to donate billions of dollars of hard cash and many tons of war material in support of Chiang Kai-shek
's war against the Japan
ese in China
and Indochina
even before formal American entrance into the Second World War following the attack on Pearl Harbor
.
. The PRC lobby has also tried to counter the domestic American interest groups which seek to bring pressure upon the PRC to move from a fixed currency to a floating currency.
Meanwhile, the new pro-DPP ROC lobby has sought to counter the erosion of support for greater diplomatic recognition of the ROC.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, the China lobby refers to any special interest group
Advocacy group
Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...
acting on behalf of the governments of either the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
or the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
to influence Sino-American relations
Sino-American relations
For the article on U.S.-Taiwan relations, see Republic of China – United States relations.Sino-American or People's Republic of China–United States relations refers to international relations between the United States of America and the government of People's Republic of China...
. During most of the twentieth century, the term "China lobby" was usually used to refer to special interest groups acting on behalf of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(ROC). Before American recognition of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
(PRC) in 1979, the PRC lobby was practically nonexistent; since that time, the PRC lobby has gradually strengthened, and by the 1990s, "China lobby" began usually referring to special interest groups acting on behalf of the PRC. The primary competitor of the China lobby has often been the "other" China lobby, the lobbyists acting on behalf of the other Chinese government.
Republic of China (ROC)
Since the 1990s, the ROC lobby has weakened for a number of reasons. Among them is the power transition in Taiwan from the KuomintangKuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
(KMT) to the opposition Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party
The Democratic Progressive Party is a political party in Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity,...
(DPP). The new DPP-controlled government has had to hire new lobbyists which have not had the long-standing relationships with members of Congress that the KMT lobbyists had. Lobbyists loyal to the KMT remain, and some have actually begun working together with PRC lobbyists to counter DPP lobbyists promoting Taiwanese independence.
People's Republic of China (PRC)
The People's Republic of China began making significant inroads with its lobbyists in the 1990s. By that decade, the PRC lobbyists finally had enough financial resources to be on a level with, or even out-compete, the ROC lobbyists in donating to members of Congress. Furthermore, the PRC lobbyists were also helped by the transition between KMT and DPP lobbyists.Since the 1990s, the PRC lobbyists have had two primary goals: first, the prevention of any further recognition of the ROC government by the American government, and second, the promotion of American policies favorable to the economic development of the PRC.
Sino-Japanese War
During the Second Sino-Japanese WarSecond Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
(which took place simultaneously with World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
), the China lobby helped convince Congress to donate billions of dollars of hard cash and many tons of war material in support of Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
's war against the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Indochina
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
even before formal American entrance into the Second World War following the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
.
Cold War period
During the 1970s, the China (ROC) lobby campaigned furiously to prevent American recognition of the People's Republic of China, but its efforts proved to be unsuccessful and the PRC was recognized by the United States in 1979.2000s
In the first decade of the twenty-first century, the PRC lobby has focused on playing up common interests with the United States in the War on TerrorismWar on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
. The PRC lobby has also tried to counter the domestic American interest groups which seek to bring pressure upon the PRC to move from a fixed currency to a floating currency.
Meanwhile, the new pro-DPP ROC lobby has sought to counter the erosion of support for greater diplomatic recognition of the ROC.
See also
- Asia firstAsia firstThe Asia First strategy was pushed for in the early 1950s by the powerful 'China Lobby' of the Republican Party in the United States, strongly supported by US General Douglas MacArthur....
- China HandsChina HandsThe term China Hand originally referred to 19th-century merchants in the treaty ports of China, but evolved to reflect anyone with expert knowledge of the language, culture, and people of China...
- Clare Boothe LuceClare Boothe LuceClare Boothe Luce was an American playwright, editor, journalist, ambassador, socialite and U.S. Congresswoman, representing the state of Connecticut.-Early life:...
- John F. MelbyJohn F. MelbyJohn Fremont Melby was a United States diplomat, who served in Russia from 1943 to 1945 and in China from 1945 to 1948. He held other State Department positions until 1953, when he was dismissed as a security risk because of his long and intimate association with the playwright Lillian Hellman,...