Foreign Policy Dilemma of China - Essay Example

Foreign Policy Dilemma of China Table of Contents Foreign Policy Dilemma of China 3 Introduction 3 China’s Foreign Policy 3 Dilemmas with the Foreign Policy 6 Dilemmas of Foreign Policy for US 8 Dilemmas of Foreign Policy for Japan 10 Dilemmas of Foreign Policy for South Asia 11 Dilemmas of Foreign Policy for North Korea 12 Conclusion 12 Bibliography 14 Foreign Policy Dilemma of China Introduction China is a rising power and needs to have such a foreign policy that supports its aim. Chinese administration wishes to develop, but with peace. However, overall peaceful development is not possible because of its existent conflicts with other states. Still. There have been major attempts towards having peaceful relations with regional as well as international countries. Chinese foreign policy has undergone many changes historically under the leadership of diverse leaders. Every leader moved the nation with his own viewpoint. However, the country’s population works together towards nationalistic aims and objectives. Some of the leaders worked towards attainment of a new world order, however, others worked to be aligned with international countries towards the race of modernism. Overall, China portrays its image as a peaceful nation with no aggressive aims, but interested in continuous development and growth economically, socially, technologically and diplomatically. The country aims to progress and be regarded as a great power. It regards its sovereignty and homeland solidarity over all other objectives. This paper discusses the dilemmas in Chinese foreign policy in dealing with other countries and forming international relations. China’s Foreign Policy There have been many noteworthy changes in the foreign policy of China, which can be noticed by tracing the last fifty years. The changes in leaderships brought about changing in the foreign policy such as the governance of Mao Zedong to the governance of Deng Xiaoping were quite contrasting. As far as the foreign policy of Mao Zedong is considered, it was groundbreaking and was intended for a new world order. In the Cold War, Zedong’s government was diplomatic in backing lately autonomous states of Africa and Asia that belonged to the third world countries. However, many of the Chinese leaders were against the Zedong’s policing, as they regarded that China should adhere to the rules of sovereign states and should not intrude in their affairs. Despite this struggle, Chinese foreign policy in the Cold War was more towards ‘ideological militancy’ and backed insurgent Asian and African countries1. With the governance of Deng Xiaonping, the foreign policy of the last leader was rejected wholly. As per his diplomacy, Chinese ‘external relations’ were required to be normalized. The new foreign policy ignored already developed close ties with developing countries and intended to make close ties with industrial countries to obtain the externalized supplies of ‘capital and technology’ for Chinese needs. After Xiaonping’s economic reforms, Chinese foreign policy intended for internal modernization with the support of external sources2. China kept it low profiled during the years 1980s to 1990s in order to safeguard its ‘internal reconstruction’. Still, many Chinese leaders follow the set principles by Deng Xiaonping in order to establish their relations with the West. Chinese government felt somewhat awkward considering the dominance of America after the demise of Soviet Union; still, it followed a diplomatic stance by avoiding a candidly challenging behavior. It took measures against ‘American unilateralism’ and got concessions for Chinese financial concerns. China has shown unconcerned behavior towards multilateralism or bilateralism enforcing its rule of non-interference, but China is mistaken by considering the notions against Chinese sovereignty3. In the region, Chinese leaders’ behavior is more forceful and less dutiful during the 1990s. Its example can be the occupation of ‘Mischief Reef in the oil-rich Spratly Islands’ because of protection of Chinese claims in the South China Sea in which, China paid no attention to its neighbors’ protests that gave rise to ‘China threat perception’ for the Asian countries. However, this behavior did not last long, as the last decade indicates towards appreciative actions that are bilateral as well as multilateral showing a change in Chinese foreign policy. China retains its low profiled concept showing its practicality not only economically, but also diplomatically. Chinese leaders show their preparedness in accepting US as the world’s unipolar dominancy. They are much interested in a ‘peaceful rise’ without any aggressive attitude towards external forces4. China shows less interest towards US dominated structures and therefore, shows lack of concern towards US involvement in the Asia Pacific region. The country is more interested in putting forward an image of a country having peaceful intentions. China is also concerned about better regional relations with its neighbors. China has initiated to resolve its disputes concerning borders and first step is becoming a signatory of a joint Declaration ‘on the conduct of Parties in the South China Sea with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’, which is intended to sort out the issue over the Spratly Islands5. China’s actions are multilateral as well as bilateral in the region concerning Asian crisis working in close collaboration with ASEAN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). China has enabled the other countries of the region to get economic benefits by China’s economic success by allowing them concessions and development of a free trade area for the region with ASEAN countries. China has also done many foreign investments and facilitated many regional countries with development support6. Dilemmas with the Foreign Policy China works as per three objectives elaborating the features of its foreign policy. The first is to maintain homeland political solidarity. The second objective is concerned with autonomous protection, integrity of territory and national confederacy while the third objective is to have a sustainable Chinese fiscal and collective growth7. Chinese foreign policy can be seen in dilemma concerning four major issues which are, ‘self-images of great power versus poor country, “open-door” incentive versus sovereign concerns, principle versus pragmatism, and bilateral versus multilateral’. China as per its own viewpoint has a dual identity of great power as well as poor country. Chinese administration fails to prove itself as a great power because whenever its role as a great power is required to resolve a world crisis, the administration comes up with list of principles without any serious resolution efforts. China is also not a poor country, but a developing one, as the country is growing constantly towards progress8. China has started “open door” policy for obtaining technology and capital from developed countries, however, resultantly, China should make close ties and cooperate with those countries in international affairs9. Nevertheless, China keeps a restricted viewpoint of sovereignty and nonintervention in dealing with its internal matters. The concept of sovereignty conceded and implemented by China is outdated in the age of globalization and can be regarded as a dilemma in terms of foreign policy of the state10. There are certain principles highlighted by Chinese administration in terms of its foreign policy. These principles deal with ‘peaceful coexistence’, establishment of just and sound financial and diplomatic world order, no employment of pressure or pressure of intimidation in international affairs, consideration of all nations as equal in terms of international relations without judging their standing status and lastly, Chinese continued support for developing countries without any hunt for domination11. However, pragmatically, all these set principles are not applicable or applied, which can be regarded as a dilemma of the foreign policy. Chinese administration considers itself much more eased out in terms of bilateralism, but the leaders are quite vocal for multilateralism. However, when it comes on practical application of multilateralism, China regards it as against its sovereignty and set principles. Multilateralism is regarded as constraining as per Chinese mindset and this can be viewed as a dilemma in Chinese foreign policy12. The country has different diplomatic stance for different countries based on their relations with the country. In dealing with different countries, Chinese foreign policy is somewhat flawed that requires further consideration for better relations and growth of the state. Dilemmas of Foreign Policy for US China stands as a ‘rising power’ while US can be understood as ‘dominant power’ and regarding their relationship with one another, there are disagreements on security concerns. According to the Chinese foreign policing with the US, China believes in keeping away from historic and current destructive changeovers of US, as it is the global power. The analysts in China have not worked towards adjustment on both sides regarding their specific standpoints, but only transiting behavior of US regarding China13. Chinese foreign policy experts have a general conception about time being in Chinese hands explaining that US and Japan cannot take willful decisions in strategizing in the region, so China should not counter these countries. Another belief is that Chinese attention should be more focused on Asia than other countries. In terms of its diplomatic policing in strategy designing, China should rank Asia-Pacific at number one14. Chinese administration is working towards diplomatic liberalization. However, this diplomatic liberalization cannot be regarded as making of China as a more peaceful nation or in alliance as per US motives. Chinese nationals whether they are well educated or else, they hold up ‘a xenophobic form of Chinese nationalism’. On the basis of this Chinese nationalism, China has issues with its neighbors. However, overall, a liberalized China will be much more favorable for US because as a diplomatically reformed China can be regarded as exemplary for other Asian and other countries15. China follows the role model of US to exercise its control over Southeast Asia similar to US state to Latin America. US works towards empowering of the Washington Consensus by taking initiatives such as ‘Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and ‘Trans Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TATIP) that emphasize the economic linkages between countries. There have been efforts to revamp principles that are already defied related to ‘intellectual property’, ‘investment rights’ and ‘financial flows’. All these steps will have a geopolitical result for the countries16. Dilemmas of Foreign Policy for Japan Chinese people have developed an anti-Japanese attitude due to which, Chinese economy has suffered to a great extent. The strained linkage between China and Japan would bring issues in the joint ventures of US and China, which are not desirable as per the leadership of China. US is quite neutral in attending to the issues between China and Japan, but it has signed a treaty with Japan in terms of defense that covers the Senkaku Islands. Therefore, in case of any military aggression or move forward, the defense treaty can be brought into play resulting in defensive action from US supporting Japan in defending the Islands. Therefore, Chinese foreign policy regarding Japanese lands requires revision in order to continue having peaceful ties with US17. China and Japan require having an agreement regarding fossil resources, but such an agreement is only possible if the two states reduce the strained situation between them. In 2008, an agreement was to be signed in which, Japan was to concede about the presence of a territorial dispute between China and Japan, but due to increasing roughness between the two countries because of Chinese resource companies, the agreement was never put into practice. As far as autonomy of the islands is concerned, the administrations of both the countries should leave the matter on future generations for a final solution to the problem because the current situation is making the linkage between the two states quite impossible that is damaging for both of them18. Dilemmas of Foreign Policy for South Asia China is currently facing an issue regarding handling of disagreement in the South China Sea. China was able to have a successful foreign policy after Asian financial crisis in 1997 based on its political proficiencies in Southeast Asia. China became a signatory of the Treaty of Amity and started to work together with ASEAN along with Japan and Korea. After initiation of cooperation with ASEAN countries, China started added joint ventures in its region as compared with US or Japan19. China’s effort in building a peaceful image along with its struggles towards collaborative ventures, all is seen with fear by other South Asian countries after 2010. There is a general conception about China’s developing armed, diplomatic and economic strength, which is considered to result in pressurizing Vietnam and Philippines to concede to Chinese claims in the South China Sea related to territory right. China, on the other hand, regards Vietnam and Philippines’ act of fishing and resource discovering as a contravening activity in Chinese waters damaging for its sovereignty. Chinese administration regards that in case of a less aggressive reaction, international and regional countries will regard it ‘as a forfeiture of its sovereign rights’. According to Chinese analysts, violation of rights of China should not be tolerated20. China should adopt a defensive strategy and it is a nationalistic demand. It cannot forgo Philippines and Vietnamese infringement altogether and a restricted militarily clash between the countries cannot be ignored. However, in case of a military intervention, China cannot be regarded as the only one having armed efficiencies. China, Japan, Vietnam and Philippines, all will suffer economically as well as socially in case of an armed conflict. However, Vietnam and Philippines will be affected more badly21. Dilemmas of Foreign Policy for North Korea North Korea intends to come up with ‘missile and nuclear capabilities’ instead of Chinese disagreement. Korean nuclear testing will result in strained relations between China and other countries such as Japan, North Korea and US and North Korea is not ready to back off. China’s powerlessness because of its failure in deterring Korean administration to obtain nuclear armaments would stain China’s expected role of regional accountable chief power. The Chinese analysts regard the issue involving North Korea as the most troublesome issue for China. China lacks an influential policy for dealing with North Korea, but the administration has no substitute to their recent strategy22. Conclusion China has a major role to play as a great power and as the most developing nation in the region as well internationally. Chinese foreign policy has changed a lot in the previous years regarding its new roles as per its development and growth. China looks for peaceful solutions of its problems, but it is not wholly possible. There are many dilemmas in Chinese foreign policy regarding its relations with its neighbors and other international states. US, being the superpower of the world currently after Soviet Union’s demise requires China to be more open and accommodative to other countries while China works as per its principles and procedures that are somewhat restrictive. China is unable to exercise its role as a regional super power as well as a rising power internationally because it keeps itself back when its assistance is required in solving international problems. As far as sovereignty of the state is concerned, the state has adopted an outdated strategy for dealing with global challenges. It has highlighted peace-loving principles with no threat to external world, however, practically, this is not possible because of its existent conflicts with Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, North Korea and other states in terms of consideration of infringement of Chinese sovereignty. Overall, China is required to adopt more diplomatic and cooperative foreign policing in establishing its relations not only with US, but also regional and international countries. Bibliography Bader, J. 2009. "Understanding China's Foreign Policy - A Political Economy Perspective". Paper presented at the annual meeting of the ISA's 50th Annual Convention "Exploring the Past, Anticipating the Future", New York City, USA Online [PDF]. Available at: http://citation.allacademic.com/meta/p310880_index.html [Accessed: 13 April 2014]. Gilboy, G. J. and Heginbotham, E. 2010. China's Dilemma: Social Change and Political Reform. [online] Available at: http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/66773/george-j-gilboy-and-eric-heginbotham/chinas-dilemma [Accessed: 13 Apr 2014]. Jakobson, Linda. 2013. China’s Foreign Policy Dilemma. [online] Available at: http://www.lowyinstitute.org/files/jakobson_chinas_foreign_policy_dilemma_web3_use_this.pdf [Accessed: 13 Apr 2014]. 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