The nation's international role has gone through three major
transformations since the founding of New China.
From the 1950s to the late 60s, the country remained outside the
world's multilateral establishments. China initially participated
in international systems during the late 70s and 80s, and gradually
began to be of strategic importance because it was regarded as an
important chip by the two competing superpowers in the
international arena.
But its inferior international status did not change in the
pervasive rivalry between the United States and the former Soviet
Union.
Since the 1990s, the nation has undergone a period of extensive
participation in international arrangements.
Due to its increasing international influence, China has been
seen more and more as a co-operative partner, a rival or a
potential threat.
With its rise in power, it is natural China's international role
has experienced changes in the early 21st century.
The country is now rapidly emerging as an influential power with
an ever-louder voice in international and regional affairs from
being an extremely backward developing nation.
It is now becoming an active participant in and reformer of
international systems from its past position as a bystander.
The nation is also evolving from being a lesser member to a
player to which the international community has paid more and more
attention.
It is impossible for China, with today's influence, to remain
aloof from the interwoven web of contradictions and conflicts
between big powers.
Along with transformations in China's international role are
continuous changes in the country's international image. Its
security and developmental environment, and foreign policy, have
also been significantly affected as a result of these
transformations.
For a time, China once appeared as a nation that did not fear
ghosts or believe in evil. Its alignment with the former Soviet
Union to oppose the United States in the 1950s, its slogan to
overthrow the American imperialist, the Soviet Revisionist and all
reactionary forces in the 60s, and its opposition to the former
Soviet Union in co-operation with the United States in the 70s, all
contributed to such an image at that time.
Tightly shrouded by a mysterious cloak, China was also once
considered by the outside world as a closed or insulated
country.
Some countries also forced such descriptions upon China as
"bellicose" and "belligerent."
But in the 1980s, China began to pursue an independent foreign
policy of peace. Precisely because of its active efforts to push
for reform and opening-up domestically and vigorously advocate
peace and development as the theme of the times globally, the
nation has engraved upon the international community a peaceful
image since the 1980s. Its security environment also improved in
the latter stages of the Cold War.
The end of the 20th century saw a decade of rapid economic
development. The 90s was also the decade that saw the country's
international status ascending continuously.
But during this period the "China threat" notion began to emerge
and spread across the world.
Some countries disseminated it out of evil political intentions
and some out of worries and misgivings about China's rapid
development, which was regarded as a huge pressure.
To eradicate unnecessary worries and misgivings, China carried
out in-depth diplomatic work and took concrete measures in an
effort to raise its diplomatic stature and improve its
international standing.
In the mid-1990s, the country robustly advocated a new security
concept, with "mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and
co-ordination" as the core, and succeeded in establishing a new
image for itself in the international community.
Entering the 21st century, the international community has paid
more heed to China. Indeed, 2005 was even called the "year of
China's rise" by some. It was the year the country raised the
"harmonious world" idea at international events.
As an extension of its internal policy, the idea demonstrates
China's diplomatic confidence and maturity. It also heralded
directions for the country's new security concept.
Its creation also indicated China's increasing awareness of
acting as a responsible large country and the country's important
step to improve its security and developmental environment.
At the moment, there are still many factors that affect China's
diplomacy. Thus, the nation should comprehensively consider all
these factors while mapping out its foreign policy.
In the context of globalization, the security concept with
co-operation at its core has increasingly been etched in people's
hearts. At the same time, unilateralist and hegemonic acts and
power politics still run rampant in the international
community.
On the one hand, China's reform and opening-up have continuously
deepened and its economic activities have continued on the track of
international practices. On the other hand, various contradictions
are unfolding in the country during this transitional period.
China should carefully consider how to best balance different
contradictions and interests while arranging its foreign
activities.
It should not only bear in mind national growth and unity and
other fundamental interests, such as national security and
sovereignty, but should also consider how to push forward all-round
opening to the outside to keep pace with international
practices.
It should not only be actively involved in international bodies,
but should also try to avoid its independent and self-reliant
characters being retarded by multilateral arrangements.
It should not only adapt itself to globalization and carry out
extensive multilateral co-operation in the economic and security
fields, but should also try to avoid this happening at the expense
of its sovereignty and security.
In sum, a China for the 21st century will be constrained by
various complicated factors and should try to balance them while
arranging its diplomacy.
This means China should cling to a median line with a more
rational mentality.
The author is a professor at the Institute of Strategic
Studies under the University of National Defence. The article was
originally published in the Global Times.
(China Daily January 17, 2006)
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