李鸿章面对史无前例的“变局”和“强敌”，提出“外须和戎，内须变法”的主张，试图通过“以夷制夷”的外交手段，争取实现自强的安定环境，具有一定的积极性。他赋予传统的“以夷制夷”以新的内涵，大胆地利用国际均势主义、利用矛盾，为中国赢得了一定条件下、一定时期的相对和平，这是应当肯定的。清末自强运动失败，李鸿章的外交政策亦随之破产，其主要原因是清政府的腐败无能和中国所面临的复杂的国际环境 Li Hongzhang, in the face of unprecedented “changes” and “strong enemies,” put forward the proposition of “changing the law outside and within the military.” In an attempt to achieve a self-sustaining and stable environment through diplomatic means of “overcoming the barbarians,” Li Hongzhang has some enthusiasm. He should give new meaning to the traditional “rule by barbarian barbarians”, make bold use of international balance of power and use contradictions to win China’s relative peace under certain conditions and for a certain period of time. This should be affirmed. The failure of the self-improvement movement in the late Qing Dynasty and the collapse of Li’s foreign policy are mainly due to the corruption and incompetence of the Qing government and the complex international environment China faces