TheGuanbi policy (Chinese:關閉政策;lit. 'closure policy'), also known as theclosed port policy (Chinese:閉港政策) was a military blockade policy of thegovernment of the Republic of China (ROC), now commonly known asTaiwan, against theChinese Communist Party (CCP) in theCommunist-controlled Zone and later, the newly establishedPeople's Republic of China (PRC). The policy sought to restrict maritime access to ports controlled by the CCP and to disrupt trade and logistics to the PRC during the early Cold War period.[1]
Following the conclusion of the Chinese Civil War, the ROC government relocated to Taiwan while continuing to claim sovereignty over all of China,Mongolia, andother territories. In response to the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in October 1949, the ROC adopted a series of measures aimed at undermining the CCP’s economic and military consolidation. Among these was the declaration of a maritime closure on Communist-controlled ports, a policy that became known as the Guanbi policy.[2]
On 18 June 1949, the ROC government announced the closure of coastal ports under Communist control, initially covering the coastline from theLiao River in the north to theMin River in the south. The closure was enforced through naval patrols and aerial surveillance, and the designated area was later extended to include ports inGuangdong Province, extending the blockade to the entire Chinese coastline.[2]
The ROC government characterized the policy as a “port closure” rather than a formal blockade in order to avoid the legal implications of a declared state of war. Despite this distinction, foreign governments and legal scholars generally regarded the policy as a de facto naval blockade under international law.[1]
In August 1950, the ROC Executive Yuan introduced regulations prohibiting ROC-registered vessels, shipping companies, and crews from engaging in trade with PRC-controlled ports. Additional enforcement measures were adopted in July 1962, further tightening restrictions on maritime traffic and authorizing naval interception of vessels suspected of violating the closure.[3]
ROC naval forces conducted patrols and interceptions in the Taiwan Strait and adjacent waters. Numerous foreign merchant vessels, including British, Polish, and Soviet ships, were stopped or detained, leading to diplomatic protests. These incidents attracted international attention and raised concerns regardingfreedom of navigation and maritime neutrality.[4]
One of the most prominent cases associated with the policy was the1954 seizure of the Soviet oil tankerTuapse, which resulted in prolonged diplomatic disputes and allegations of unlawful detention of crew members.[4]
Several governments, including the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, lodged formal protests against ROC enforcement actions. Legal debates emerged over whether the ROC’s actions constituted piracy, unlawful seizure, or a legitimate exercise of belligerent rights in the absence of a declared war.[1]
Following changes in international relations, including the normalization of relations between the United States and the PRC, the ROC gradually reduced enforcement of the Guanbi policy. The naval blockade component was formally ended on 12 September 1979. Remaining regulations related to port closure and shipping restrictions were abolished on 15 January 1992.[3]
The Guanbi policy remains a significant example of Cold War maritime strategy in East Asia. It illustrates the ROC’s use of economic and naval measures to pursue political objectives and has been studied in the context of international law, cross-strait relations, and post-war Asian geopolitics.[1]
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