Diplomacy in Retreat
The Cultural Revolution was the most destructive period in the diplomatic history of the People’s Republic. It would bring down much of what had so far been achieved and leave indelible scars on multiple generations of diplomats—just as it left scars across the country. China’s progress in establishing diplomatic ties with the outside world ground to a complete halt from the middle of 1966 until the end of 1969. As factional violence exploded across the country, China harassed foreign diplomats at home and used its embassies to promote revolution abroad. Most of its diplomats were brought back to Beijing and pitched against each other in scarring political battles, public “self-criticisms,” and brutal outbreaks of violence. Many were later sent to labor camps in the countryside.