What do you mean by vassal state?

A vassal state refers to a country that nominally retains certain sovereignty, but in fact is subordinate to and subject to other countries to some extent in internal affairs, diplomacy and economy. The most typical form of vassal state is vassal state or semi-colony. For China, China has been a vassal state since the Western Han Dynasty, and China dynasties adopted appeasement policy towards the vassal state, rarely interfering in its internal affairs, but providing it with free protection.

For western countries, nominally sovereign countries, in fact, they are dependent on and controlled by western imperialist powers in diplomacy, economy and military affairs. In the stage of monopoly capitalism, while occupying many colonies, western imperialist countries sometimes make some backward countries politically and formally independent for their own interests, but they are subordinate to themselves financially and diplomatically.

The difference between Chinese and western governors:

It is an indisputable fact that China has suzerain-vassal relations with neighboring countries. China's suzerain-vassal relationship indirectly influenced the suzerain-vassal state by means of culture, education and diplomacy in China. On the surface, this suzerain-vassal relationship seems to be a trivial and unequal relationship, and neighboring countries want to "pay tribute to China"; It was awarded by China and stamped by China. ?

As a suzerain country, the rulers of China treat foreign countries with the attitude of "you don't treat foreigners, but whoever comes will not refuse", and in principle do not interfere in the internal affairs of subordinate countries. Sometimes, in order to reduce their burden, the rulers of China also imposed various restrictions and regulations on the time and scale of tribute to China. Although some countries sometimes pay tribute to China in advance in violation of regulations, the China government has also given it a warm reception.

It can be seen that the suzerain-vassal relationship between China and neighboring countries is essentially different from the international relations of modern western countries, which is equal on the surface and predatory in essence. The relationship between the suzerain and colony of western colonial countries is even more different, such as control and being controlled, oppression and being oppressed, exploitation and being exploited, and plunder and being plundered.