Chinas Foreign Policy - Essay Example

China’s Foreign Policy before and after 1978 Introduction China has always played a crucial role in global politics. Being one of the largest countries in terms of population, territory, and economy, China’s foreign policies and its approach towards other countries are always considered crucial for global peace and stability. The purpose of this essay is to analyze the major causes and effects of China’s foreign policy before and after 1978 and its approach towards the United States and Russia over the years. China’s Foreign Policy since 1978 In 1978, 2 years after the death of Mao Zedong, China made crucial changes in its foreign policy under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping. Foreign direct investments and trades were encouraged under the “open door policy” to ensure rapid economic growth of the country (Zhao 114). During the Mao era, China tried to achieve its economic objectives under ideological and conservative foreign policies. However, the failure of “Great Leap Forward” and “Cultural Revolution” caused the deaths of millions of people and significantly crippled the Chinese economy and brought the country on the verge of failure in terms of political and socio-economic aspects (Solomon 60-97). By adopting the “Great Leap Forward” policy in the late 1950s, Mao tried to promote China’s industrialization by emphasizing on the development of domestic “backyard” steel manufacturing factories. Besides steel, other industries were particularly ignored. As traditional peasants were forced to work in factories instead of fields, most of the country’s crops were spoiled due to the lack of harvesting. Consequently, a great famine gripped the country from 1959 to 1961. According to official reports, over 45 million of people were died from starvation during the “three bitter years” (Southerland). During Mao’s 2nd disastrous policy, i.e., “Cultural Revolution”, enormous number of scientists, intellectuals, teachers, artists, and others, who were considered as a threat to the Communist ideology, were tortured, harassed, imprisoned, or executed under the name of social and political persecution. Mao’s oppressive ideological policies and self-isolation from global platform descended the country into chaos and lawlessness (Southerland). Historically, China had a troublesome relationship with its neighbors due to territory and border issues. India, Japan, and Soviet Union were the biggest competitors and threats to China and its objective of becoming an Asian powerhouse. In order to protect its sovereignty and national security, developing a strong military and overall, whole nation was necessary. However, unlike Mao administration, Xiaoping administration emphasized on the economic developments as such growth would eventually lead to military boost and strengthening of a whole country. By the late 1970s, the Chinese leaders realized that if they wanted to build China as a global power, it was necessary to develop peaceful and stable global conditions for China and it couldn’t happen unless they changed their ideological foreign policies and adopted pragmatic approach towards foreign relations (Jia). Therefore, economic interest hasn’t been the only thing in foreign policies of China since 1978. Since the political and economic reforms in 1978, China has attempted to solve its issues through peaceful negotiations and maintain good relations with other states to nourish the positive environment for its stable growth. In this spirit, China managed to resolve its border issues with Mongolia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, and Burma (Jia). Modernization, nationalism, and regionalism are the basic core concepts of China’s foreign policies since 1978. Deng stressed on the necessity to divert China’s priority from ‘revolution’ to ‘modernization’ for bringing the economy to life. Nationalism emerged as a strong power after the Cold War era in China as majority of political leaders and nationalists believed that nourishing the concept of nationalism among the young generations would accelerate domestic developments and strengthen the national policies. Under the regionalism policy, China has emphasized on holding a regional power status in order to protect its political and economical interests. Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989 led to economic sanctions on China from western world, followed by the collapse of Soviet Union in 1991 (Zhao 114-117). During the period, China, being an only existing communist power, was facing an immense pressure from democratic world. In order to sustain the hazardous circumstances and remain in a race of becoming an Asian power, China had to adopt liberal foreign policies that would maintain a low profile status of China in global affairs and avoid any confrontation with other states. In a way, since 1978, economic interests haven’t been the only thing in China’s foreign policies, but developing peaceful and stable environment for the economic growth and elevating China’s prestige on a global level by active participation in various international organizations and by facilitating economic, political, and military cooperation with other states are some of the crucial priorities in modern foreign policies of China (Bergsten et al. 1-2). China’s Foreign Policy before 1978 In the late 1950s, Mao Zedong’s position in the national governing system was unchallenged. He claimed all of the credit for the defeat of Japan in the second Sino-Japanese War and the Nationalist Party. After becoming a president of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and taking control of governing body of China in 1949, Mao Zedong became a virtual communist dictator of China. Even after forming a government, Mao was well aware of threat from the KMT (Kuomintang) and its most of supporters from big cities in China (Solomon 105-143). Also, Mao was willing to build China as a self-reliant and powerful communist state in the world. Hence, ideology wasn’t the only thing of Chinese foreign policy before 1978, but to achieve economic independency, gaining control of disputed territories, intensifying Communist influence on a domestic level and international level, and fighting against western imperialism were major priorities of the Chinese government prior to 1978 (Nathan and Ross). In order to achieve the rapid industrialization, Mao implemented the “Great Leap Forward” policy. Being a traditional Chinese and ideological person, Mao refused to use modern technologies and foreign aid, and solely depended on manual labour in terms of traditional peasants. Ill-planned and ineffective planning of Mao resulted into sever famine in the country which caused the significant loss of Mao’s influence on the country’s political and social system (Southerland). Therefore, in order to regain the domination, Mao adopted policies that were highly based on nationalism and radical communism. A conflict between India and China over disputed territories further escalated into war which ended up with the Chinese victory in 1962. As China captured both the disputed territories, it allowed Mao to recover his influence which was significantly lowered after the failure of the “Great Leap Forward”. Constraining the advancement of imperialism in the east and promoting communism was the core of Mao’s foreign policies. The Chinese intervention during the Vietnam War and Korean Civil War saved those countries from American imperialism and allowed Mao to bring those South-eastern countries under the influence of China. Mao’s aggressive militant foreign policies were mainly based on the purpose of promoting socialism in Asia; bringing majority of Asian region under the control of China; and strengthening own position further in the political system of the country. Mao’s obsession over holding the ruling position was further highlighted during the period of “Cultural Revolution” when majority of intellectuals and scholars which were considered as threat to his position were executed (MLM Revolutionary Study Group, 12-25). In other words, Chinese foreign policies prior to 1978 were not only about ideology, but were highly focused on militant communist approach, industrialization of the country, and setting communist domination in the country. Mao’s ambition of promoting communism in Asian states under the leadership of China and strengthening own position in the country were the major causes behind his most of the foreign policies before 1978. Comparing the Importance of Russia and the US for China The United States and Russia have always been important players in China’s foreign policy. However, China’s relationship with both the countries has faced constant ups and downs. During the 2nd Sino-Japanese war, the US was the major alliance of China. However, when Mao Zedong’s CCP (Chinese Communist Party) came into the power in 1949, the equation between China and the US drastically changed. During the Mao era, China was more tilted towards Soviet Union as both the countries were carrying similar communist ideology and fighting against the western imperialism. The relationship between the US and China reached to further bottom with China’s open conflict with the US during the Korean Civil War and the Vietnam war (“U.S.-China Relations since 1949”). However, after the 1970s, China began to move towards the US as the relationship between the China and the Soviet Union was on the verge of breakage due to China’s doubt over the Soviet Union’s loyalty towards communist ideologies and growing tensions over Sino-Soviet border (“Sino-Soviet Relations”). China’s move to rebuild the relationship with the US was more tactical rather than casual as both the countries were seeking to protect mutual interest through it. The US was interested in ending up the Vietnam War while China was seeking support for its resistance against the Soviet Union (“U.S.-China Relations since 1949”). After the political changes in Soviet Union in the late 1980s, the relationship between China and the Soviet Union gradually improved with mutual agreements over border issue, Afghan intervention, and the increased collaboration in various economic and technological sectors (“Sino-Soviet Relations”). Since the early 21st century, China has maintained the stable relationship with both the countries in order to protect the peaceful environment for its development. In the last 6 years, the relationship between China and Russia has become stronger, while the US-China relation has remained neutral. There is a strong mutual mistrust and strategic suspicion between China and the US. China’s policies such as, its support to North Korea in its nuclear program and to Russia in the Ukraine crisis, and China’s military activities in the Southern Chinese Sea have further triggered the displeasure in the US sphere about China (Wang). On contrary, recent gas deal between Russia and China has revived the Sino-Russia relationship. Being a 2nd largest economy in the world, China is seeking to integrate even further in global economy and rise as a global power in coming years (Wang). As world is shifting from unipolar power system to multipolar power system, newly emerging Russia-China alliance is more crucial for China to compete against the dominance of the US on a global level (Wang). In a way, even though China has tactically maintained stable relations with the US and Russia in recent years, collaboration with Russia is more important for the China. Due to the massive mutual distrust between the US and China, Russia would be always at the priority over the US in China’s foreign policy. Conclusion China’s foreign policies before 1978 were highly based on communist ideology as well as focused on rapid industrialization and the establishment of Chinese domination in Asia. However, after the political reforming in 1978, China adopted foreign policies that were mainly focused on maintaining stable relations with other states in order to nourish positive environment for the economic growth of the country. Also, despite giving importance to Russia in its foreign policies, China has also maintained stable relation with the US in order to protect own interests. Adoption of liberal and effective foreign policies has allowed China to emerge as a potential powerhouse on a global level. Works Cited Bergsten, C. Fred, Gill, Bates, Lardy, Nicholas R., and Mitchell, Derek. “Chinese Foreign Policy.” csis.org, 2014, 1-2. Web. 31 Dec. 2014. Jia, Qingguo. “International Politics and Society.” Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, 1999. Web. 31 Dec. 2014. MLM Revolutionary Study Group. “Chinese Foreign Policy during the Maoist Era and its Lessons for Today.” marxists.org, 2007, 1-40. Web. 31 Dec. 2014. Nathan, Andrew J., and Ross, Robert S. “Chinas Geography and Security Goals.” Asia for Educators, 2009. Web. 31 Dec. 2014. “Sino-Soviet Relations.” U.S. Library of Congress, 2014. Web. 31 Dec. 2014. Solomon, Richard H. Maos Revolution and the Chinese Political Culture. The USA: The Center for Chinese Studies, 1974. Print. 31 Dec. 2014. Southerland, Daniel. “Uncounted Millions: Mass Death in Mao’s China.” Washington Post, 17 Jul. 1994. Web. 31 Dec. 2014. “U.S.-China Relations since 1949.” Asia for Educators, 2009. Web. 31 Dec. 2014. Wang, Zheng. “US-China Relations: The Danger of Strategic Misjudgment.” The Diplomat, 8 Nov. 2014. Web. 31 Dec. 2014. Zhao, Quansheng. “Chinese Foreign Policy in the Post Cold War Era.” World Affairs 159.3 (1997): 144-129. Web. 31 Dec. 2014. Read More