* Open Door Policy: Hay proposed the Open Door Policy in 1899, which called for equal trading rights and access to China for all nations. This policy helped to prevent any single country from gaining too much control over China and ensured that the United States would have continued access to the Chinese market.
* Boxer Rebellion: During the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, Hay worked to maintain American neutrality and prevent the conflict from escalating into a full-scale war. He also helped to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the rebellion that preserved American interests in China.
* Root Mission: In 1903, Hay sent Elihu Root, the Secretary of War, on a mission to China to strengthen relations between the two countries. Root negotiated several important agreements with the Chinese government, including a treaty that gave the United States the right to build the Panama Canal.