PRC's International Trade in the Geopolitical Context of the Cold War——An Investigation of Cotton Textile Trade in Southeast Asia in the 1950s
The decade from 1950 witnessed rapid development of decolonization in Southeast Asia.As the region gradually moved away from economic dependence on the colonial suzerains,it had become an important export market for China's commodities,especially cotton textiles.During this period,China competed with the United States,Japan,and Britain for cotton products in Southeast Asia.However,the economic diplomacy four countries employed to facilitate export served not only economic interests,but also their respective geopolitical schemes.Through demonstrating the intergovernmental consultation mechanism between London,Tokyo,and Washington,as well as Beijing's use of"people's diplomacy"to mobilize overseas Chinese merchants,this paper shows how cotton textile trade in Southeast Asia was incorporated as a part of the Cold War confrontation.This paper also investigates the close interaction between governments and private entities.By showing the indispensable role of commercial activities in Cold War confrontation,this paper provides a new perspective to China's foreign trade in the context of the Cold War.
Cold WarCotton TextileInternational TradeGeopoliticsOverseas Chinese
NETL
NSTL
万方数据
