Chinese Foreign Policy as a Rising Power to find its Rightful Place

Abstract

This article seeks answers to two related questions in the context of China’s rise as a great power. Has the Chinese leadership abandoned Deng’s low-profile diplomacy and reoriented Chinese foreign policy towards a more assertive or even aggressive direction, supported by its new quotient of wealth and power? Is China ready to take a global leadership role and assume international responsibility as a great power? Focusing on China’s foreign policy after the beginning of the global downturn in 2008, this article finds that China has indeed become increasingly assertive in its defence of so-called ‘core’ national interests, reacting stridently to all perceived slights against its national pride and sovereignty. While China has built its national

Keywords

• Chinese foreign policy, China’s global power aspiration, China as a rising power, core national interests, global leadership and responsibility, Chinese nationalism, global financial meltdown.

References

1. Katrin Bennhold, “As China Rises, Conflict With West Rises Too”, New York Times, 17 January 2010.
2. Andrew Small, “Dealing with a More Assertive China”, GMF blog, http://blog.gmfus. org/2010/02/08/dealing-with-a-more-assertive-china/ [last visited 10 March 2013].
3. Timothy Garton Ash, “China Arrives as a World Power Today - And We Should Welcome It’, The Gaurdian, 2 April 2009.
4. John Lee, “Lonely Power, Staying Power: The Rise of China and the Resilience of US Pre- eminence”, Strategic Snapshot, No. 10 (September 2011), p. 1.
5. Den Qirong, Gaige kaifang yilai de zhongguo waijiao (Chinese Diplomacy since the Reform and Opening Up), Beijing, China, Shijie Zhishi Chuban She, 2009, p. 18.
6. Jia Qingguo, “Learning to Live with the Hegemon: Evolution of China’s Policy Toward the U.S. Since the End of the Cold War”, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 14, No. 44 (August 2005), pp. 395-407
7. 陈岳 [Chen Yue], ‘中国当前外交环境及应对’ [The current international environment and the responses], 现代国际关系 [Contemporary International Relations], November 2011, p. 4.
8. Katrin Bennhold, “As China Rises, Conflict With West Rises Too”, New York Times, 27 January 2010.

9. “China Yesterday Urged the United States to Cancel a Massive Arms deal to Taiwan, Warning of Severe Consequences if it does not Heed the Call”, China Daily, 8 January 2010.
10. “Chinese Threats to Sanction Boeing are More Sound Than Fury”, Chinese Economic Review, 3 February 2010.
11. “Press Conference of the PRC State Council Information Office for Contacts between Central Government and Dalai Lama”, Xinghua, 11 February 2010.
12. Wu Xinbo, “Forging Sino-U.S. Partnership in the 21st Century: Opportunities and Challenges”, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 21, No.75 (2012), p. 393.
13. John Pomfret, “U.S. Takes a Tougher Tone with China”, Washington Post, 30 July 2010.
14. Amy Kazmin, “China Bar on Border Road Angers India”, Financial Times, 30 November 2009.
15. Sudha Ramachandran, “Dalai Lama Caught in Sino-Indian Dispute”, The Asia Times, 18 September 2009.
16. Harsh V. Pant, “China’s Challenge Moves India to Expect the Worst”, The Japan Times, 28 September 2009.
17. Suisheng Zhao, “Shaping the Regional Context of China’s Rise: How the Obama Administration Brought Back Hedge in its Engagement with China”, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 21, No. 75 (2012), p. 377.
18. John Garnaut, “China’s Money Mandarins Take the Hard Line”, Sydney Morning Herald, 20 April 2009.
19. “China Opens Top Economic Work Meeting with Focus on Stable Growth”, Xinhua, 9 December 2008.
20. Suisheng Zhao, “The China Model: Can it replace the Western Model of Modernization”, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 19, No. 65 (June 2010), p. 433.
21. Yong Deng, China’s Struggle for Status: The Realignemnt of International Relations, Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press, 2008, pp. 10 and 12.
22. Yuan Peng, “China’s Strategic Choices”, Contemporary International Relations, Vol. 20, No. 1 (Jan/Feb. 2010), p. 30.
23. Zhu Feng, “A return of Chinese Pragmatism”, PacNet, No. 16 (5 April 2010).
24. Justin Blum, “Shareholders Vote in Favor Of Unocal Acquisition”, Washington Post, 11 August 2005.
25. Myra P. Saefong and Simon Kennedy, “Rio Tinto Rejects Chinalco Deal to Sell Stock”, The Wall Street Journal, 5 June 2009.
26. Dana Cimilluca, Shai Oster and Amy Or, “Rio Tinto Scuttles Its Deal with Chinalco”, The Wall Street Journal, 5 June 2009.
27. Xi Jinping: ‘外国人不要无视中国贡献, 吃饱没事干’ [Foreigners Shouldn’t Overlook China’s Contribution, Well Fed and With Nothing To Do], 球场’评论员的博客, at http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_5d769d690100cy3x.html~type=v5_one&label=rela_ nextarticle [last visited 18 December 2012].
28. Song Xiaojun, Wang Xiaodong, Huang Jisu, Song Qiang,et.al., Zhongguo Bugaoxing (China is Not Happy), Nanjing, Jiangsu Renmin Chuban She, 2009.
29. Raymond Zhou, “Why is China angry?”, China Daily, 24 April 2009.
30. 戴旭 [Dai Xu], C形包围-内忧外患下的中国突围 [C Shape Encircle, China’s Breakthrough with the Internal Concerns and External Dangers], Beijing, Wenhui Chubanshe, 2009.
31. 刘明福, [Liu Mingfu], 中国梦 [The China Dream], Beijing, Youyi Chuban Gongshi, 2010.
32. Chris Buckley, “China PLA Officer Urges Challenging U.S. Dominance”, Reuters, 1 March 2010.
33. Suisheng Zhao, “Foreign Policy Implications of Chinese Nationalism Revisited”, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 22, No. 82 (2013).
34. Wang Yizhou, “China’s Diplomacy: Ten Features”, Contemporary International Relations, Vol. 19, No. 1 (January/February 2009), p. 46.
35. David M. Lampton, “China’s Foreign and National Security Policy-Making Process: Is It Changing and does It Matter?”, in David M. Lampton (ed.), The Making of Chinese Foreign and Security Policy, Stanford, CA, Stanford University Press, 2001, p. 14.
36. James McGregor, “The China Fix”, Time, 1 February 2010.
37. ‘首轮中美经济对话:除上月球外主要问题均已谈’, 中新社, at http://www.chinanews. com.cn/gn/news/2009/07-29/1794984.shtml [last visited 12 January 2012].
38. Feiling Wang, “Preservation, Prosperity and Power, What Motivates China’s Foreign Policy”, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 14, No. 45 (November 2005).
39. Robert B. Zoellick, “Whither China: From Membership to Responsibility?”, NBR Analysis, Vol. 16, No. 4 (December 2005), p. 7.
40. Xue Fukang, “Hedging Strategy Won’t Do Relationship Good”, China Daily, 21 November 2005.
41. Liu Haibing, “Pingxi Zhongguo Zheren Lun- (On the argument of China Responsibility)”, in Pan Zhongqi, (ed.), Guoji Zheren yu Daguo zhanlue (International Responsibility and Great Power Strategy), Shanghai, Shanghai Renmin Chuban She, 2008, p. 95.
42. Elizabeth Economy, “The Impact of International Regimes on Chinese Foreign Policy Making: Broadening Perspectives and Policies… But only to a point”, in Lampton (ed.), The Making of Chinese Foreign and Security Policy, pp. 215-230.
43. John Garnaut, “Battle for Shanghai Takes Centre Stage in Hu’s Strategy”, Sydney Morning Herald, 1 February 2010.
44. Robert J. Samuelson, “The Danger Behind China’s ‘Me First’ Worldview”, Washington Post, 15 February 2010.
45. Guo Zhengyuan, “21 Shiji de Erge Shinian Zhongguo de Guoji Diwei he Zuoyong- China’s Internaitonal Status and Role in the Second Decade of the 21st Century)”, Zhongguo pinglun [China Review], No. 137 (March 2010), p. 11.
46. ‘重大理论创新:瞭望载文阐述胡锦涛时代观五大主张] [Important Theoretical Innovation: Outlook Weekly on Hu Jintao’s Five Pointviews of the Time], RenminNet, at http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1024/10438064.html [last visited 15 February 2013].
47. Fu Jing, “China Willing to Aid Bailout: EU Leaders”, People’s Daily, 28 January 2012.
48. Stephanie T. Kleine-Ahlbrandt, “Beijing, Global Free-Rider”, Foreign Policy, at http://www. foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/11/12/beijing_global_free_rider [last visited 12 December 2012].
49. Minxin Pei, “Why China Won’t Rule the World”, Newsweek, 7 December 2009.
50. Michael Wines and Edward Wong, “An Unsure China Steps onto the Global Stage”, New York Times, 2 April 2009.
51. Chow Chung-yan, “Beijing Heeds Call to Play Big Role on World Stage Official Unveils Major Shift in Foreign Policy”, South China Morning Post, 11 March 2008.
52. Wen Jiabao, “Our Historical Tasks at the Primary Stage of Socialism and Several Issues Concerning China’s Foreign Policy”, People’s Daily, 27 February 2007.
53. James Miles, “China and the West, A Time for Muscle-Flexing”, The Economist, 19 March 2009.
54. Yang Jiechi, “China’s Diplomacy Since the Beginning of Reform and Opening Up”, Foreign Affairs Journal, No. 90 (Winter 2008), p. 15.
55. Wang Jisi and Zheng Wingmin, “New Thinking in China’s Diplomacy Since the Inception of Reform and Opening Up”, Foreign Affairs Journal, No. 90 (Winter 2008), p. 21.
56. Jonas Parello-Plesner, “The G 2: No Good for China and for World Governance’, PacNet, No. 31A (30 April 2009).
57. “Wen Rejects Allegation of China, US Monopolizing World Affairs in Future’, Xinhua, 21 May 2009.
58. Minxin Pei, “Why China Won’t Rule the World”, Newsweek, 7 December 2009.
59. Minxin Pei, “China is Not a Superpower”, The Diplomat, 29 December 2009.
60. 袁鹏 [Yuan Peng], ‘中国真正的挑战是未来5-10年’ [China’s Real Challenge is the Next 5-10 Years], 人民日报 [People’s Daily], at http://ccnews.people.com.cn/n/2012/0731/ c141677-18636091.html [last visited 28 November 2012].
61. Nye also believed that, “If Deng were in charge today, he would lead China back to the cooperative relations with the U.S. that marked early 2009”. See, Joseph S. Nye. Jr., “China’s Bad Bet against America”, PacNet, No. 14 (25 March 2010).
62. Douglas H. Paal, “Beijing’s Attitude Adjustment”, National Interest, at http://www. nationalinterest.org/Article.aspx?id=23140 [last visited 11 February 2013].
63. ‘外交部外交政策咨询委员会卢秋田和李凤林委员就“世界如何看中国”话题 与公众在线交流答问实录’, [online exchange transcript between MOFA foreign policy advisory members, Lu Qiutian and Li Fenglin, and the pubilc on ‘how the world sees China’], http://bbs.fmprc.gov.cn/detail.jsp?id=347534 [last visited 25 October 2012].
64. Kristine Kwok and Minnie Chan, “Surprise consent for US ship visit”, South China Morning Post, 11 February 2010.
65. Zhu Feng, “A Return of Chinese Pragmatism”, Pacnet, No. 16 (5 April 2010).
66. Jin Canrong and Liu Shiqiang, “Guoji Xinshi de Shengke Biandong Jiqi dui Zhongguo de Yingxiang [The Significant Change in International Situation and its Impacts on China]”, Xiandai guoji guanxi – (Contemporary International Relations), December 2009, p. 1.
67. Liu Shengxiang, “Zhongguo Waijiao Zhouqi yu Waijiao Zhuanxin- [China’s Diplomatic Cycles and Diplomatic Transformation]”, Xiandai Guoji Guanxi – (Contemporary International Relations), no. 1, January 2010, p. 49.
68. Wang Xiaodong, “Wo Kanhao Zhongguo- [I look well at China]”, Zhongguo Gaige Wang- (China Reform Net), at http://www.chinareform.net/2010/0212/12486.html [last visited 5 January 2013].
69. Fareed Zakaria, “U.S.-China Growing Pains”, Economist, 8 February 2010.
70. Orville Schell, “China Reluctant to Lead”, YaleGlobal, 11 March 2009.
71. Bonnie S. Glaser, “Discussion of Four Contradictions Constraining China’s Foreign Policy Behavior”, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 10, No. 27 (May 2001), pp. 303-308.
72. Ronald Tammen, “The Impact of Asia on World Politics: China and India Options for the United States”, International Studies Review, Vol. 8, No. 4 (December 2006), p. 564.
73. Christopher Twomey, “Explaining Chinese Foreign Policy Toward North Korea, Navigating Between The Scylla And Charybdis of Proliferation And Instability”, Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 17, No. 56 (August 2008), p. 406.