Cold War Diplomatic Surveillance: The British Government, the Chinese Mission, and the Aliens Order, August–November 1967

Rawcliffe, Dalton

Abstract

The Anglo–Chinese relationship reached a nadir during the Cultural Revolution and the Hong Kong 1967 Leftist Riots. The burning of the British Mission in Beijing and the subsequent hostage crisis further exacerbated the tensions. In response to these events, the British government–through the newly implemented Aliens Order–restricted the movement of Chinese officials in London and placed them under surveillance. The Aliens Order was a strategic move to pressure the Chinese government to address the hostage crisis and engage in diplomatic negotiations. In retaliation, the Chinese diplomatic staff in London resisted these restrictions by leveraging revolutionary diplomacy and heightening qiaowu, their overseas Chinese policy of engagement. They aimed to mobilise London’s Chinese community to counteract the British government’s actions, reflecting the broader ideological and diplomatic battles of the era. Reassessing the enactment of the Aliens Order within the context of the tumultuous events in Beijing and Hong Kong provides valuable insights into the complexities of international relations and diplomatic strategies during a period of significant global ideological conflict. This analysis delves into a specific historical conjuncture in the Anglo–Chinese relationship where the interplay between diplomacy, coercion, and community engagement in the pursuit of national interests was on full display.

Citation

Rawcliffe, D. (2025). Cold War Diplomatic Surveillance: The British Government, the Chinese Mission, and the Aliens Order, August–November 1967. International History Review, https://doi.org/10.1080/07075332.2025.2480653

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 12, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Mar 21, 2025
• Publication Date: Mar 21, 2025
• Deposit Date: Mar 26, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 27, 2025
• Journal: International History Review
• Print ISSN: 0707-5332
• Electronic ISSN: 1949-6540
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07075332.2025.2480653
• Keywords: Britain; PRC; Portland Place; Cold War; Aliens Order
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/47000865
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07075332.2025.2480653
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=rinh20; Received: 2024-06-11; Accepted: 2025-03-12; Published: 2025-03-21