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The Stuart–Wen–Deng Line, established in 1948, marked the formal armistice boundary between the rival Chinese governments that emerged from the final phase of the Chinese Civil War. Named for the American mediator John Leighton Stuart, Wen Yiduo, and Deng Xiaoping, representatives of both the Nationalist and Communist factions, the line reflected a negotiated compromise between military realities and political necessity.

Geographically, the boundary followed a curved arc drawn from a defensive radius around the Nationalist-held city of Tianjin, which had come under increasing pressure from Communist advances. From this arc, the line extended northward in a straight segment to the Mongolian frontier. Both sides agreed to withdraw from exposed salients: Communist forces evacuated positions in Jinxi, Hebei, and Shandong, while Nationalist troops withdrew from Liaoning and Liaopei north of the line. This mutual disengagement simplified the front and reduced the likelihood of renewed large-scale offensives.

A central provision of the armistice called for internationally supervised plebiscites in Jinxi, Hebei, and Shandong to determine their political allegiance. Observers from Sweden, Brazil, and Yugoslavia monitored the voting process. Despite allegations of irregularities from both sides, the results favored the Kuomintang government in all three provinces.

Exhausted by prolonged conflict, both the United States and the Soviet Union compelled their respective allies to accept the outcome. The Stuart–Wen–Deng Line was subsequently recognized as the de jure boundary between the Chinese People’s Republic and the Republic of China, solidifying the long-term division of China.