英國對中華民國關閉領海政策（1949－1954）的因應

British Response to the Closure Policy of the Republic of China, 1949-1954

在二次世界大戰後的國共衝突中，中華民國政府使用「關閉」政策，也就是封閉領海的方式阻卻中國的海上貿易，希望削弱中共的經濟實力，因此英國對華航運受到重大的打擊。英國試圖尋求美國協助，阻止關閉政策之施行；然而英美兩國對遠東有不同的外交政策，英國期待因而受挫。英國還動用海軍護衛商船，稍後也嘗試與中華民國政府締結秘密協定。相對於美國與臺灣日益密切的軍事合作，英國的舉動實凸顯其在東亞影響力的式微。

After the Second World War, with the conflicts between the communists and KMT government, the Republic of China (ROC) imposed the so-called “Closure Policy,” prohibiting foreign shipping from entering her territorial waters. KMT government expected this policy to weaken the Communist government’s economic strength. The policy then brought negative effects upon the British shipping in the Taiwan Strait. Great Britain then turned to the United States for intervention to prevent the implementation of the policy. However, Great Britain and United States had different policies toward the Far East. Therefore, Great Britain's expectation was shattered. Moreover, Great Britain used her navy to escort merchant shipping. Later, the British government tried to reach the secret agreement with the KMT government. At this time, United States cooperated with KMT government more closely with KMT government comparatively, the British influence thus in the Far East became more limited.