Abstract: “Southeast Mutual Protection” is a term referring to the local provincial leaders such as Liu Kunyi and Zhang Zhidong, who compromised with Britain and other imperialistic big powers due to their own interests and needs under the condition that the imperialistic big power reinforced their armed interference in and invaded China on the pretext of the Yihetuan Movenment. “Southeast Mutual Protection” superficially illegal and conflicted with the central government of the Qing Dynasty, but in spirit, it was consistent with the central governments foreign policy. “Southeast Mutual Protection”, to some extent, maintained the national sovereignty and the social stability in the Southern region of Yangtse River. “Southeast Mutual Protection” had a double nature:resistance in compromise and boycott in concession and showed a patriotism in its superficially conflicting policy.

Key words: Yihetuan Movenment, “Southeast Mutual Protection”, Liu Kunyi, Zhang Zhidong