Yuan Shikai and the Restoration of Tianjin at the Turn of the Twentieth Century

As one of the most controversial historical figures in modern Chinese history, Yuan Shikai has attracted considerable scholarly attention in recent decades. While Yuan’s diplomatic activity during his presidency of the early Republican era has been well studied, his earlier diplomatic activity during the late Qing period has not received much scholarly discussions in the English-language historiography. This article examines how Yuan negotiated with various imperialist powers over the restoration of Tianjin, as well as over the creation of foreign concessions in the city, at the turn of the twentieth century. It reveals Yuan’s distinctive diplomatic strategies while highlighting his way of positioning himself at the intersection of multiple nodes of power. It argues that Yuan Shikai’s diplomatic maneuvering played an indispensable role in the transformation of Tianjin from a city governed by a colonial administration to a Chinese city with multiple foreign concessions.