Lu Zongyu

Lu Zongyu (陆宗舆, also romanized as Lu Tsung-yu, 1876-1941) was a Chinese diplomat and politician during the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China. He is primarily remembered for his role in negotiating loans from Japan during the First World War and his subsequent implication in the Twenty-One Demands controversy.

Born in Wuxing, Zhejiang province, Lu Zongyu served in various diplomatic posts, including positions in Japan. He rose to prominence as a key figure in the Ministry of Finance under the Yuan Shikai government. During World War I, as Vice Minister of Finance, Lu was instrumental in securing loans from Japan, ostensibly to strengthen China's economy and infrastructure. However, these loans were controversial due to the unfavorable terms and perceived Japanese intentions.

Lu Zongyu's involvement in the negotiations surrounding the Twenty-One Demands, a set of demands presented by Japan to China in 1915, further damaged his reputation. Although he argued that he acted in China's best interests under duress, he was widely seen as having conceded too much to Japan. This perception led to significant public outcry and condemnation.

Following the May Fourth Movement in 1919, a wave of protests against perceived government weakness and foreign influence, Lu Zongyu was labeled a traitor by many in China. He was dismissed from his government post and faced considerable social ostracism. He largely withdrew from public life thereafter.