The Overall Tone and Theme of the Chinese Diplomacy

By Professor Pang Zhongying，China People’s University

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The Overall Tone and Theme of the Chinese Diplomacy

By Professor Pang Zhongying，China People’s University

The Chinese foreign policy with principled, theoretical and innovative presentation by the documents of the CPC EighteenthNational Congress reflects the continuity and innovation of China's diplomacy, on the one hand, is a farsighted summary of China's diplomacy in the past 10 years, and is also the response to challenges posed by profound changes in the world situation on the other.

Chinese Diplomacy Focuses On Continuity In The Future

Making judgments on international situation has always been the fine tradition and the path of victory in China, and any major decision must be built on the foundation of correct judgment on the global situation - international political reality.

The world today is undergoing profound and complex changes, but peace and development remain the underlying trends of our times. The global trends toward multipolarity and economic globalization are deepening. Cultural diversity is increasing, and an informationized society is fast emerging. New breakthroughs are in the making in the scientific and technological revolution. Global cooperation is expanding at multiple levels and on all fronts. Emerging market economies and developing countries are gaining in overall strength, tipping the balance of international forces in favor of the maintenance of world peace. All these have created more favorable conditions for ensuring general stability in the international environment. On the other hand, the world is still far from tranquility.

There were lot discussions on the international situation among academic circles at home and abroad in the past 10 years, the focus is whether the world situation becomes more critical. Regarding the optimistic views or pessimistic views on the international situation, the CPC new documentation integrates together these complementary points of view by dialectical materialism: peace and development remain the underlying trends of our times, and the tipping balance of international forces in favor of the maintenance of world peace still develops. All these have created more favorable conditions for ensuring general stability in international environment, but at the same time, the world is still far from tranquility.

Such a reference is a rational and balanced, and the world is faced with two possibilities: the possibility of peace and of war. Under the current complex situation in the world, the West (including Europe) is still in the financial crisis, the financial crisis exerts deeper and deeper impacts on the West politically and socially, catalyzing social unrest in Europe and America. The United States is teetering on the altar of the "unipolar world" and a growing number of American scholars argue that the United States is in the "post-hegemony" phase. Making either-or conclusion is difficult, nor necessary. It is better to have pointed out the two possibilities of international situation, so that the Chinese diplomacy can prepare from the two perspectives. If the overall trend in world peace prevails and sustains, then China will get further development; if the overall trend in war prevails, China also makes the worst-case scenario preparations and considerations, i.e. strongly opposed to the war, and maintain world peace.

As the aforementioned judgment on international situation is made, then, it is followed by the basic question of what kind of world to pursue. A clear answer is: Mankind has only one earth to live on, and countries have only one world to share. History teaches us that the law of the jungle will not lead to the coexistence of human society and that the arbitrary use of force cannot make the world a better place. To pursue peace, development and cooperation and oppose war, eliminate poverty and avoid confrontation in order to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity - this is what the people of all countries long for. We call for promoting equality, mutual trust, inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutually beneficial cooperation in international relations and making joint efforts to uphold international fairness and justice. By this concise statement, what China stands for and opposed to is clear-cut.

China will continue to hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and win-win progress, unswervingly committed to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development. This is both the brief summary of the past 10-year diplomacy and continuity of China's foreign policy in the future.

Making More Accomplishments

The past statements on the principles of the Chinese Foreign policies always used "negative terms" to show differences with foreign countries. But nowadays, less "negative terms" and more "positive terms" are used in the Chinese Foreign policy. This change means making more accomplishments in China’s diplomacy while certainly reaffirming the principles of its foreign policy.

First is the principle of independence.China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development and firmly pursue an independent foreign policy of peace. In today world of interdependence and economic globalization, we reiterate independence and stress that China's foreign policy is by the 1.3 billion Chinese people rather than any external force.

Second is the principle of sovereignty. We are firm in our resolve to uphold China's sovereignty, security and development interests and will never yield to any outside pressure. As some countries on the one hand shout sovereignty obsolete, but trample on the sovereignty of other countries on the other hand, our firm and clarified stance on the issue of sovereignty represents and reflects the will of the entire Chinese people.

Third is the principle of justice. We will decide our position and policy on an issue on its own merits and work to uphold fairness and justice. A just cause enjoys abundant support while an unjust cause enjoys little support. As the 21stcentury witnesses worsening cases of fairness and justice issues, our idea will have a positive impact on the world.

Fourthis to advocate the principle of resolving conflicts and disputes through peaceful (diplomatic) rather than military means. China is committed to peaceful settlement of international disputes and hotspot issues, opposes the wanton use of force or threat to use it, opposes any foreign attempt to subvert the legitimate government of any other countries, and opposes terrorism in all its manifestations.

Fifthis the principle against hegemony and power politics.China opposes hegemonism and power politics in all their forms. China reiterates to the people of the world it never seeks hegemony and never engages in expansion.

Sixth is the principle of globalism.China will continue to keep in mind both the interests of the Chinese people and the common interests of the people of all countries, get more actively involved in international affairs, play its due role of a major responsible country, and work jointly with other countries to meet global challenges. This is the continuity of internationalism under the new historical conditions of globalization.

Regarding foreign policy in the economic area, China will unwaveringly follow a win-win strategy of opening up and promote robust, sustainable and balanced growth of the global economy through increased cooperation. We are committed to narrowing down the North-South gap and supporting other developing countries in enhancing their capacity for self-development. China will strengthen coordination with other major economies on macroeconomic policy and resolve economic and trade frictions with other countries through consultation. China upholds the principle of balancing rights with obligations. We will take an active part in global economic governance, promote and facilitate free trade and investment, and oppose protectionism in all its forms.

In fact, since the reform and opening up, the economic diplomacy has been a main theme of the Chinese diplomacy. China's economic diplomacy will continue since it is for both China's economic development and the development of the world economy.

Over the past five years, the outbreak of the Western financial crisis affects the entire global economy, and brings about great harm to the development of the world economy. In order to respond to the international financial crisis, China has participated in a series of global economic governance mechanisms, especially the G-20, to alleviate and address the impacts of the financial crisis.

Since the year 2008, China and other countries are engaged in active macroeconomic policy coordination at the G-20 summit. This is a change of world-historical significance. It is till the first decade of the 21stcentury that world economy is managed mainly by the United States, Europe and Japan, but after the international financial crisis, emerging economies such as China, India, Brazil, South Africa, etc. play increasingly important role in global economic governance.

Detailed Innovative Formulations

The general foreign policy is defined as comprehensively developing cooperation with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence，and the details are as follows.

First, regarding the relationship between China and developed countries, its main task is to improve and develop the relationship, broaden areas of cooperation, and properly handle differences, and promote the building of long-term, stable and healthy new type relations.

After 30 years of development, Europe, the United States and Japan are China's largest trading partners in the world. New type major powers relationship is a new formulation in recent years, reflecting the new content and type of relations with these Western countries. In fact, on relations with the United States and the European Union and its member states, China has repeatedly advocated the building and shaping of a new bilateral relationship.

Second, regarding relations with neighboring countries. Neighboring countries is a regional base for the relationship between China and the world. China reiterates its foreign policy since the Asian financial crisis, continues to promote friendship and partnership with neighbors, consolidates friendly relations and deepens mutually beneficial cooperation with them, and ensures that China's development will bring more benefits to neighbors.

Third, regarding China's relations with developing countries. Solidarity and cooperation with developing countries are emphasized: increase unity and cooperation with other developing countries, work with them to uphold the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and support efforts to increase their representation and voice in international affairs. China will remain a reliable friend and sincere partner of other developing countries. It shows China’s identity of a developing country, and is more convincing and inspiring.

Fourth, regarding China's multilateral diplomacy.Without repetition of traditional wording, China will actively participate in multilateral affairs and multilateral organizations to play an active role in international affairs, and work to make the international order and system more just and equitable. This deepens the Chinese understanding of international cooperation and awareness of multilateralism as a matter of global governance and world order.

Fifth, regarding the Hot public and cultural diplomacy plus diplomacy from other perspectives, such as "political party diplomacy", "people-to-people diplomacy, as well as domestic discussions of safeguarding maritime legitimate rights and interests, etc. The wording of "public diplomacy" and "cultural diplomacy" appear for the first time in the CPC documents.

With regard to China's national defense, the new official document notes thatbuilding strong national defense and powerful armed forces that are commensurate with China's international standing and meet the needs of its security and development interests is a strategic task of China's modernization drive, and to respond to China's core security needs and ensure both economic development and development of defense capabilities. This has caused a strong reaction globally.

With regard to China's maritime rights and interests, China will vigorously promote the construction of ecological civilization and improve the ability of marine resources development, resolutely safeguard national maritime rights and interests, and build a maritime power.China makes this explicit point for both safeguarding its maritime rights and interests, and making contributions to the peaceful use and development of the international high seas according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The combination of continuity and innovation indicates a transition of China's diplomacy in the next few years. China's economic restructuring, structural readjustment of its society, reform of the political structure, etc. profoundly promote Chinese diplomacy in transition, and help China play a greater role in global peace and development and assume greater international responsibility for the common progress of mankind.