Lessons in foreign policy from Emperor Quang Trung

Every year on the 5th day of the Lunar New Year, the Dong Da Hill Festival is held to commemorate the Ngoc Hoi-Dong Da Victory, which annihilated 290,000 Qing troops – one of the most glorious victories against foreign invaders in the nation's history.

Every year on the 5th day of the Lunar New Year, the Go Dong Da Festival is held to commemorate the victory at Ngoc Hoi-Dong Da, which defeated 290,000 Qing troops.

In their long history of defending their country, the Vietnamese people have always known how to initiate and end wars in the most intelligent and appropriate way. More than 200 years ago, Emperor Quang Trung-Nguyen Hue set an outstanding example.

He initiated the war of national defense against the northern invaders with a lightning strike against the 290,000 Qing troops who were overconfident and arrogant, looking down on their small neighboring country. Immediately afterward, he skillfully concluded the victory with a flexible political and diplomatic strategy, while still maintaining the principle of uncompromising defense, protecting the territorial security and national standing of his country to the very end, with the utmost certainty.

There was no immediate tribute payment according to the old custom, not even as a formality, but rather a series of substantive negotiations to establish a new type of diplomatic relationship based on equality, mutual benefit, and lasting peace. The reality at the time was that after General Sun Shi Yi suffered a crushing defeat and fled back to China following the Battle of Dong Da, Emperor Qianlong ordered the formation of a new expeditionary army of 500,000 men, with the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Fu Kang'an, as its commander-in-chief.

Emperor Qianlong outwardly feigned determination to seek revenge, but inwardly he was filled with apprehension and anxiety: What would happen if the Qing army suffered another crushing defeat? Within China at that time, the Heaven and Earth Society – an anti-Manchu organization – would exploit this defeat to launch a general offensive against the imperial court. And the disgruntled troops, who frequently caused trouble along the coast and had previously allied with the Tây Sơn army, would certainly not remain silent in the face of such an opportunity. Qianlong asked his close advisor, Hòa Khôn, about plans for revenge against Quang Trung, to which Hòa Khôn replied: China has never been pleased with Annam (Vietnam). Historical evidence shows that the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties all ultimately suffered defeats. That example is still fresh in our minds.

Emperor Qianlong thought it was right, but if he couldn't show punishment for Quang Trung's audacity in defeating the imperial army, what would the other neighboring vassal states think of the Qing dynasty?

While Emperor Qianlong was grappling with this great paradox, in Vietnam, King Quang Trung had already formulated a new direction to usher in the post-war period. The king told his court: "The generals and soldiers have completed their glorious mission; now, apart from Ngo Thi Nham, no one will be able to do a better job in this new task."

Thus, Ngo Thi Nham was appointed to lead the diplomatic mission to the Qing Dynasty to negotiate and usher in a new era of peace. The Qing court received a memorial from Governor-General Phuc Khang An, sent by Ngo Thi Nham, stating: “The envoys and tribute from Vietnam are ready at the Nam Quan Pass, awaiting only the Emperor's order to cross the border to Yen Kinh to discuss peaceful relations between the two countries.” Phuc Khang An, fearing another war in Vietnam, privately petitioned the Qing Emperor to accept this proposal.

In his predicament, Emperor Qianlong reluctantly accepted the apology from the victorious side that had "unintentionally" defeated the Heavenly Dynasty's army. Seizing the opportunity to declare that there was no longer any reason to wage war in retaliation, Qianlong ordered the disbandment of the newly assembled expeditionary army. This event took place around the end of February in the year of the Rooster (1789).

Both Vietnamese and Chinese historical records detail the specifics of the negotiations between the two sides that marked the beginning of a period of lasting peace. The opening of the border to receive the Tây Sơn dynasty's envoys marked a step in restoring diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China after the war.

From this, we see that the national hero Quang Trung, in January of the year Ky Dau (1789), used military force to crush 290,000 invading Qing troops. Just one month later, he used diplomacy to thwart the re-invasion intentions of 500,000 enemy troops who were threatening the country's borders. In April of the year Ky Dau, Thang Hung Nghiep from China wrote a letter to the Vietnamese side proposing several things, including the request for King Quang Trung to personally go to Nam Quan to discuss important issues between the two countries with the Governor-General of Liangguang. The Vietnamese side sent a diplomat to meet with the Left River Military Command of the Qing dynasty in Guangxi. The Vietnamese diplomat politely refused with the reply: "Currently, our country is still preoccupied with many matters. It would be inconvenient for our head of state to personally come to the border at this time."

Thang Hung Nghiep immediately said: "A true man discusses matters openly and honestly; what need is there for personal worries or for foresight?"

The representative of King Quang Trung frankly replied: "That has never happened before. If he had already been appointed and then gone to Nam Quan, that might be possible. But my head of state has just sent his nephew to the border gate, and now he himself is going there? I fear that it would be undignified."

On May 18th, 1789 (the year of Ky Dau), Thang Hung Nghiep arrived at Nam Quan carrying a letter and a string of pearls from Qianlong as a gift to Emperor Quang Trung. Later, by order of the Qing Emperor, Thang Hung Nghiep had to escort the Vietnamese envoy Nguyen Quang Hien all the way to Yen Kinh. At this point, the relationship between the two countries took another important official step forward.

After numerous correspondences recorded in Vietnamese and Chinese historical records, the Qing Emperor agreed to recognize the hero from Tay Son as the King of Annam during his visit to Beijing to attend the 80th birthday celebration of the Qing Emperor Qianlong in the year of Canh Tuat (1790). Quang Trung did not accept this condition. He wanted the Qing court to grant him the royal title before he went to China for the grand celebration. In a petition sent to China, the envoy Ngo Thi Nham argued: “If we wait until next year, that is, the year of Canh Tuat (1790), to attend the court in Beijing before being granted the title of King, then the head of state of my country will have no authority to speak with the military leaders of other countries who are also coming to China. Therefore, granting the title of King beforehand is necessary.” The wording in the letter implied that if King Quang Trung was not granted the title in the year of Ky Dau (1789), it was very likely that the king would not go to Beijing to pay homage the following year. That would humiliate the Qing dynasty in front of the vassal states.

Ultimately, Qianlong had to accept the proposal to bestow the title of "King of Annam" upon Emperor Quang Trung in the year of Ky Dau (1789).

In a letter to Emperor Quang Trung dated June 28, Phuc Khang An spoke highly of him: “The head of state, a humble man from the Tay Son camp, rose up and gained control of the entire country of Vietnam. Now, to be granted the rank of prince, what greater honor could there be? For only members of the royal family can hold such a princely title…”

As the Qing official had predicted, our country had just defeated the Qing army at the Battle of Dong Da. The invaders, swallowing their bitterness, were not only forced to abandon their intention of re-invading, but were also immediately granted the title of king to Quang Trung. This was not merely a matter of bestowing a title upon a person, but also a diplomatic procedure recognizing the autonomy of the head of state. This not only brought glory to Vietnam but also elevated our country's standing in the eyes of other countries in the region.

King Quang Trung, through a flexible yet resolute diplomatic strategy, firmly upheld the principle of protecting his sovereignty and position. The Qing Emperor dispatched Dai Vien Kinh with the Qing imperial decree and a poem to officially declare recognition of Vietnam. Before July 25th, the Qing Emperor's envoy had arrived in Vietnam from Guangdong.

To ensure the political security of his new dynasty and the sustainability of peaceful and friendly relations between the two countries, King Quang Trung also forced the Qing dynasty to agree to a policy of not tolerating former officials of the Le dynasty who had fled the country to China following the Qing army.

China's recognition of the principle of sovereignty and non-interference in Vietnam's internal affairs was a great success for King Quang Trung in his strategic decision to end the war and restore peace and friendship between the two countries that had previously been adversaries. The Vietnam-China relations between King Quang Trung and Emperor Qianlong were truly warm and friendly.

The post-war diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam in 1789-1790 are clearly documented in our historical records (Dai Viet Quoc Thu) and those of China (Thanh Thuc Luc), passing down important lessons to future generations:

- In a just war to defend the homeland, strong internal military power is a crucial and decisive factor.

- However, as the war ended and peace was restored between the two once-opposing nations, a resolute yet flexible foreign policy strategy became necessary to achieve the goal of building lasting peace while respecting and protecting national interests.

Peace cannot be achieved through subservience and begging. Nor can peace be achieved through disguised conspiracies, covert interference in each other's internal affairs, and causing political insecurity in partner countries.

In diplomatic relations between two sides, mutual respect and sincerity are essential. As President Ho Chi Minh taught: Trustworthiness is the highest and most necessary condition, manifested in concrete actions, not merely in beautiful but meaningless and dishonest words.

According to Chinhphu.vn