Understanding the New Trend in China's Foreign Policy

In recent years, the increase of China's national strength and the constant change of the international situation bring about the changes in China's international status as well as its function in international community. Changes also happen in China's foreign diplomacy with some adjustments in foreign policy. However, the basic principles of New China's foreign diplomacy have not changed&mdashpeace and friendship, mutual respect, equal treatment to all the countries, opposition to hegemony and never-seek-hegemony. "Peaceful development" and "harmonious world" are the main guidelines of present China's in dealing with the external affairs as well as the basic principles of China's foreign diplomacy. This thought is connatural in China's foreign diplomacy but became more systematic, clarified and confirmed. Some new changes in China's foreign policy and the rise in its international status give rises to some misunderstandings and hostilities. Other countries, including friendly countries, want to have a more correct understanding toward this situation in order to seek better communication and cooperation with China. Based on the basic skeleton of New China's foreign diplomacy and the argumentation of the consistency and coherence of China's Peaceful Foreign Diplomacy, this paper aims to present the positive significance that China's foreign policy will bring toward the world's peace and development.
The rise of China in new century has been witnessed by the world, but, toward which, different countries hold different views. Some countries welcome the rise of China with satisfaction, expecting the rising China to become a decisive force in safeguarding the world stability, promoting global development as well as restricting hegemony still there are some other countries feel extremely worried and upset about this, and wreak all these negative emotion on China through hostility and boycott. The prevailing "China Threat Theory" and "Containing China" were born under this context, which harms the establishment of a harmonious world.
China&rsquos diplomatic work has been through many twists and turns in the past few decades, while it also witnessed some huge success, including the following several aspects:
After restoring its legitimate membership in the United Nations, China has become an important country in the international political arena, holding the balance of power. Its international standing has also been greatly raised.
China has not only contributed a great deal to world peace and development, but also gained a peaceful international environment that is favorable to our modernization.
China has established diplomatic relations with most of the country in the world. It not only further advanced its consolidation and corporation with the developing countries, but also stepped up its relation with many developed countries/regions like the United States, the European Union, Japanese and Russia. China&rsquos diplomatic policy has been more and more mature through long-term attempts and practices. Further more, Chinese leaders have also developed superb diplomatic skills.
Nevertheless, China has also made some mistakes. For example, we have distinguished between friend and foe according to ideologies. We have also given supports to some foreign countries beyond our ability.
The development of China's diplomatic policy can be divided into six phases:
1. 1949-1959
2. 1960-1971
3. 1972-1979
4. 1979-1989
5.1989-2004
6.2004-Present day
1. 1949-1959
During this period, China adopted the policy of leaning to one side. On one hand, China strived to develop diplomatic relations with countries belonging to the socialist camp, aligning with Soviet Union. On the other hand, China fought in the world resolutely against the western camp with the United Stated as the lead&mdash&mdashtaking part in the wars to Resist France Aggression and Aid Vietnam, and to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. At the same time, China supported the countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America in the wars against imperialism and colonialism. We also developed the relations with the new nations, during which China proposed the &ldquoPrinciples of Peaceful Coexistence&rdquo.　
The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence or Panchsheel are a series of agreements between the China and India. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are:
- Mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty
- Mutual non-aggression
- Mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs
- Equality and mutual benefit
- Peaceful co-existence
Actually, the original ideas of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence can be traced back even before the success of the revolution. The CPC Central Committee first formally announced the principles of New China with regard to the establishment of diplomatic relations soon after the People&lsquos Liberation Army crossed the Yangtze River. As the spokesman of the General Headquarters of the Chinese People &rsquos Liberation Army "on 30April Mao Zedong promulgated the principles for establish diplomatic relations with foreign countries" New China was willing "to consider the establishment of diplomatic relations with foreign countries and such relations must be based on equality mutual benefit mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and first of all on no help being given to the Guomindang reactionaries."
2. 1960-1971
During this period China conducted the "two-line" policy. While contacting with other socialist countries, Soviet Union pursued hegemony and great power chauvinism. As a result, the socialist camp disintegrated and the relation between China and Soviet Union was broken. To safeguard its independence and security, China had to adopt the strategy of &ldquofighting with two &lsquofists&rsquo". At that time, China was in a rather difficult situation and had little room for maneuver in the international community. China can't do other than to actively develop its relations with developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
3. 1972-1979
During this period China carried out the "one line, a number of countries" policy. In the 1970s, Soviet Union's expansion was rather aggressive with its further threat towards China. The relation between China and Soviet Union was rapidly worsened that resulted in military conflicts. Under such circumstances, concerning China's own security and making use of the USA's adjustment of its global strategy--using China to hamper Soviet Union, China improved and normalized its relations with the USA and to some extent the two countries joined hands to oppose Soviet Union. As a result, China had more and more place to play in the international arena and established diplomatic relations with most countries in the world. With the support of developing countries, China resumed its legal seat in the UN and became a decisive force in the world. On this stage, China began to participate in international affairs and support developing countries to set up a new international political and economic order. 
4. 1979-1989
In 1982, September, the new strategic policies on foreign affairs were deliberated and passed in the 12th Chinese Communist Party Congress Conference. Deng Xiaoping explained the peaceful diplomacy of independence and self-reliance from a new angle. That is China shall never make alliance with any super power or join in any strategic union China shall never fight against any country together with another one. As in the international affairs, China will take sides based on the actual facts and the interests of Chinese people. And the amendments in Chinese foreign policies are as follows:
- China has changed its idea on war and peace. In today&rsquos world, though the threats of peace still exist, the power of peace has been spread and outstood that of the war, so peace could be sustained
- China will adhere to the peaceful diplomatic policy of independence and self-reliance and make no alliance with any country
- China will no longer judge any country merely by its social system or ideology. Rather, it will be open to establish diplomatic relations with all the countries on the principle of peaceful co-existence and development
- China will give priority to economic development in its relations with other counties, which means to strengthen economic ties with other counties and help develop economy from other aspects of diplomacy.
When he met with the visiting United Nations Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar in Beijing on August 21, 1982, Deng Xiaoping said, &ldquoChina&rsquos foreign policy is consistent and this policy could be summarized into three sentences: oppose hegemony, safeguard the world peace, and strengthen unity and cooperation with the Third World countries. Why do I emphasize the Third World? That&rsquos because opposition to hegemony and safeguarding world peace is important for the Third World.&rdquo
5.1989-2004
Due to a political affair in the end of spring in 1989, the consequent disintegration of the Soviet Union and the upheaval of the East Europe, Washington changed its policy towards China. Some countries view China as a real or potential threat, thus publicly or semi-publicly treating China as an enemy. The US and its alliances listed China as the most threatening strategic opponent, hence implementing a so-called containment policy against China.
Confronted with this critical situation, particularly in the face of repeated changes of regimes in the Soviet bloc, Deng Xiaoping put forward the well-known &ldquoGuiding Principle of Twenty-four Characters&rdquo, i.e.,Watch the world with a calm mind stand firmly confidently deal with the difficulties keep a low profile never act as a leader and do something. This principle, summarized from many speeches by Deng Xiaoping during the end of the 1980s and the early 1990s, was his observation of the world situation and thinking of China&rsquos foreign policy in the new world scenario.
According to the majority of the Chinese people, the post-cold war era exhibited the following characteristics: 1) Peace and development, not revolution and war, would become the tendency of the time. 2) With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the two-polarized world was replaced by a multi-polarized one, and China could be one of the five &ldquopoles&rdquo. However, hegemony still exited and the United States, the only remaining super-power, continued to bully the weak nations. 4) China and other developing countries should unite to struggle against the unjust world order, whose rules of the game had been designed by the developed nations.
The international community entered a new historic period since 1990s. In China, the Chinese leaders of 3rd generation centered on Jiang Zemin also made adjustments in their foreign policies. And its principles on diplomacy are as follows:
- China is against any hegemony and power politics of any form for the sake of world peace.
- China will contribute to the establishment of the new world order.
- China will be helpful in the common development and prosperity of other countries.
- China will attach less attention to ideology in its relations with other counties while more attention to the establishment of a sound international environment for Chinese economy with the adherence of socialism.
And the main diplomatic policies of China were:
- China will give superior priority to Sino-U.S. relation.
- China will work hard to establish a relation of no-alliance, no-confrontation, no-targeting-at-a-third-country with other strong economies.
- China will focus its attention on Asia-Pacific region and make sound and stable relations with countries around.
China has made remarkable diplomatic achievements since 1989:
- It has established &ldquostrategic partnership&rdquo with the United States and some other major countries. This type of relationship has enabled China to develop bilateral relations with them in a more consistent way.
- It takes an active part in regional cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries, ASEAN members and Central Asian nations.
- It regained full sovereignty of Hong Kong and Macao in 1997 and 1999, respectively.
- It sends out peace-keeping missions to many parts of the world, helping the host countries to restore stability.
- It established diplomatic relations with forty more countries, including Israel in January 1992, Korea in August 1992, and South Africa in January 1998.
- It joined the World Trade organization through fifteen years of diplomatic negotiations and economic consultations.
- It speaks in a louder voice in the United Nations and other international forum for the benefits of its own and/or other developing nations&rsquo sovereignty.
The CPC held the 16th NPC in the beginning of November in 2002. Chinese leaders summed up the diplomatic experience of the past 13 years in the report of the NPC&mdash&mdashWe should stick to the diplomatic policy of peace and independence, maintain world peace and promote common development. We should put first the country&rsquos sovereignty and safety. We should develop friendly and corporative relations with various countries based on the five principles of peaceful coexistence, and object to hegemony and power politics to establish a new international political and economic order that is fair and rational. We should cope with the international affairs with an attitude of calmness and a spirit of respecting each other as well as seeking common ground while reserving differences. We should respect the world diversity to promote the democratization of international relations and strive for a peaceful international environment as well as a favorable peripheral environment.
2002-present
The 16th CCPCC reports included the experiences and lessons of the past and formulated new guiding principles for foreign affairs in the new period. There are signs of maturation in Chinese diplomacy under the leadership of the 4th generation of Chinese leaders centered around Hu Jintao. There are many breakthroughs and adjustments in Chinese diplomatic policies. And they can be seen in the following aspects:
- China has been more firm in its domestic affairs like Taiwan problem, and has shown great determination to resist hegemony headed by the U.S.A and Japan.
- China is ready to shoulder its international responsibility to ease the burden of other countries, this can be proved by the huge relief it had given to the tsunami-stricken regions around Indian ocean in 2004.
- China has sent peace-keeping troops to solve the regional disputes and chaos within the frame of the UN, and has sent a fleet to Somalia coast to fight against pirates.
These diplomatic achievements, recognized by the international community, have raised China&rsquos position on the world stage. Even the United States has started to acquire a new look at China. Robert Zoellick, former Deputy Secretary of State of the United States once said, &ldquoAs it becomes a major global player, we are now encouraging China to become a "responsible stakeholder" that will work with the United States and others to sustain, adapt, and advance the peaceful international system that has enabled its success.&rdquo
It is important to note that, during his visit to the United States in April 2006, President Hu Jintao said that China and the United States are more than &ldquostakeholders&rdquo, but also &ldquoconstructive partners&rdquo while President Bush repeated the word &ldquostakeholder&rdquo.
The whole world wants to know in what direction China is heading" after the Beijing Olympic Games. Wen said in a speech delivered at the annual high-level debate of the United Nations General Assembly. China will stick to the path of peaceful development and continue to pursue the policies of reform and opening-up and an independent foreign policy of peace.&ldquo This is in the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and the people of all other countries. It is also in keeping with the trend of the world." .The Chinese premier said his country is ready to make joint efforts with other countries for world peace and will develop ties with them on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. "The world needs peace, for only with peace can there be development," he said. China is ready to develop friendly relations with all countries "on the basis of equality and mutual benefit rather than on ideology or political system," he also said. In handling international relations, China "does not seek to build alliances or become a leader and will never do so in the future," he said.
However, the premier noted that China is still a "developing country, where productivity remains low and further development is constrained by the shortage of resources, and energy and environmental consequences." The Chinese leader also called for the peaceful settlement of international disputes. He emphasized that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China will continue to play an active and constructive role in promoting the peaceful settlement of international hotspot issues and regional conflicts.
Wen said China, as a responsible and major developing country, is ready to work with other members of the international community to boost cooperation, share opportunities, meet challenges and contribute to the harmonious and sustainable development of the world.
Policy towards Developing Countries
It is not difficult to understand why China attaches importance to its relations with the developing world. It is the developing countries in Africa and other regions that helped China regain its legitimate seat in the United Nations in October 1971. With the help of most developing countries, China has successfully foiled every anti-China motion introduced by some western countries at the United Nations Human Rights conference in Geneva. It was even believed that Beijing&rsquos success in bidding for the Olympic Games in 2008 and Shanghai&rsquos request for hosting the World Expo in 2010 were supported by many of the developing countries. Most of the developing countries in Africa and other parts of the world have also played an important role in stopping Taiwan from joining the United Nations and other international organizations whose seats are only for sovereign nations.
Conclusion
The world is changing and China is changing too. China's diplomatic policy should and can change as well. However, the change in China is practical, active, constructive and propitious to world peace and development. This article aims to demonstrate that China's rapid development and rise could only make the world more peaceful and harmonious the advance of China's international status could only make the world more beautiful China's mightiness is happiness but not danger to the world. In a word, the new change in China's diplomacy is in opposition to hegemony with the purpose of maintaining world peace and promoting world development. The whole world, especially countries belonging to the third world would surely benefit from the new change.