The Responsibility of Chinese Think Tanks in the 21st Century

This book， Fu Ying’s third collection of works， continues the presentation of “Seeing the World” and is divided into various topics. It emphatically responds to many international questions and concerns about China and also contains answers to international issues of concern to the general public， helping readers to understand the new global trends and the development of international relations.

Seeing the World II：

Challenges and Choices in a Century of Change

Fu Ying

CITIC Press Group

February 2021

86.00 （CNY）

Fu Ying

Fu Ying is a graduate of the English Department at Beijing Foreign Language Institute （now Beijing Foreign Studies University） and received her Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Kent， UK. She has served as director general of the Asia Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs， ambassador to the Philippines， Australia and the UK， and vice minister of Foreign Affairs. She was appointed as an adjunct professor at Tsinghua University in 2018 and established the Center for International Security and Strategy， at Tsinghua University.

China is a latecomer in the construction of think tanks. China has a tradition of emphasizing strategists and wise advisors throughout its history， but in ancient times， the aides and staff only provided services to the monarch in a one-way manner without public social attributes. In terms of the development of modern think tanks， there is a gap between China and other emerging countries and traditional Western countries.

Chinese think tanks are already playing a big role in government decision-making and leading trends of social thought， but when it comes to internationalization， we do have space for improvement.

We should say that now is a precious opportunity for Chinese think tanks to grow. China is rapidly developing， the demand for policy advice and consultation is great， and there are many topics requiring research. At the same time， we are growing up in a mature international environment， with abundant knowledge and experience to learn and draw from.

On how to strengthen the connection between think tanks and policy-making institutions， I can think of these points.

First， think tanks need to establish a healthy interaction with policy-making institutions， and research on international topics needs to stay close to the country’s diplomatic realities and needs. When Dr. James G. McGann， a think tank expert from the University of Pennsylvania， came to Beijing， I asked him for advice on the relationship between think tanks and governments. He argued that the purpose of a think tank is to serve the needs of policymaking， and if what is made does not solve the problems encountered in policymaking and cannot be used for policymaking， this think tank’s thought product is not successful.

China’s think tank construction is still maturing， and how it can better provide intellectual support for policy-making and cultivate excellent talents needs to be constantly explored and improved. Some people wonder how think tanks can know what policy-making needs there are. Indeed， it is a kind of relation between supply and demand， and it is the demand that drives the supply， and the policy-making departments need to continuously issue demand instructions and signals and provide relevant information materials. For example， many departments such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintain close communication with think tanks. The Report to the Eighteenth National Congress of the CPC again emphasizes the role of think tanks， and that the development of think tanks in China is crucial to achieving scientific， democratic， and law-based policymaking.

Think tanks need to have a sense of policy service. Independent thinking， including criticism， by think tanks， needs to be constructive， aimed at making policy decisions more accurate， and think tanks need to be sensitively aware of the problems to make suggestions for improvement. Purposefulness is important， so think tanks need to stick to the right political direction and have a more dispassionate thinking and balanced perspective.

Second， think tanks should focus on the major challenges China faces in international issues. For a country like China， which is a newcomer to the world stage， there are many theoretical and operational issues that need to be addressed. For example， how to determine China’s contemporary orientation in the world？ China’s self-perception is that of a regional power that will grow into a world-class power in the future， and when it comes to world ranking， China needs to pay more attention to per capita income and the development challenges it faces. While the international community generally views and expects China as a world power， our think tanks need to put forward views on this issue that are acceptable both at home and abroad， or at least promote the formation of a social consensus at home， and on this basis build corresponding theories of great power strategy and great power diplomacy.

Third， think tanks should adhere to their public attributes and social responsibilities， and enhance their awareness and ability to provide public goods to Chinese society and the international community.

During my recent visits abroad or conversations with visiting foreigners， I sensed that on the one hand， there is a hunger for information about China and a desire to hear more about China from the outside world， while on the other hand， some biased and misleading information about China is widely circulated， which is more prominent in Western countries. The problem lies in their ideological differences with China， and also in how China can provide more and better information to the international community. China needs to enhance its ability to portray its own image， and in this regard， think tanks can indeed have more to do and say. For example， on the issue of China’s international responsibility， there is a lot of discussion and expectations from the outside world. China is a large socialist country with its own diplomatic philosophy and principles， which do not favor interference in internal affairs. Traditional powers， however， often lack understanding and do not agree with this， or even believe that China is unwilling to take responsibility. Think tanks can make more presentations to the outside world about China’s behavior patterns and principles， and improve the international community’s understanding of China， so that the country can better fulfill its international responsibilities. Moreover， the process of enhancing international understanding is also conducive to Chinese think tanks building their own international profile.

At present， the voice of Chinese think tanks in the world is still tender， and their strength and talent are in the process of growth. Society should show more patience to think tanks， and give respect and value recognition to their thought products.