China

Question 1

What has China been in the post-Cold War era?

Answer 1

An economic powerhouse + formidable military power
One of the most rapidly developing economies in world
Inequality still rampant

Question 2

Under whose leadership did China’s ascent to global power begin?

Answer 2

• Began under leadership of Deng Xiaoping
• With his open-door reform policies
• Opened up China to FDI
• Move from heavily centralised economy to free-market style economy

Question 3

When did China become a member of the World Bank + IMF?

Answer 3

In 1980

Question 4

When did Xi Jingping become leader and what did this signify?

Answer 4

In 2013

Signified end of ‘Lay Low’ doctrine

Question 5

Does China have big power status?

Answer 5

Integrating itself into international community so its capability to have influence is growing

Question 6

What does its big power status mean?

Answer 6

Status allows for human rights abuses
-> growing income inequality, environmental degradation, violation of social + economic rights

Powers e.g. US dependent on China so don’t hold it accountable for violations

Question 7

How has China been able to breach its sanctions in the past?

Answer 7

• Faced sanctions after Tiananmen Square
• China (as permanent member of UNSC) threatened to use its veto in 1990 debate over authorising force against Iraq
• That threat helped China to breach its sanctions

Question 8

What is Chinese foreign policy based on?

Answer 8

The 5 Principles for Peaceful Coexistence

• Respect for national sovereignty
• Non-aggression
• Non-interference in internal affairs of other states
• Equality + mutual benefit
• Peaceful coexistence

Question 9

What actions don’t appear to be in accordance with the 5 principles?

Answer 9

China’s actions over South + East China Seas

esp. concerning non-aggression

Question 10

Why are there tensions between 5 principles + China’s involvement in IOs?

Answer 10

Involvement in IOs relies on greater openness + sometimes involvement in each other’s affairs
e.g. peacekeeping
Thus China participates in IOs with a certain degree of ambivalence

Question 11

Is China becoming more assertive in its FP?

Answer 11

• Has become more assertive in its FP

- Has moved away from mutual coexistence

Question 12

What has foreign policy been like under Xi Jingping?

Answer 12

• Abandonment of ‘lay low’ doctrine
• Aggressively expansionist approach
• Rapid military modernisation
• Defeating any form of Taiwan independence
• Enhancement of soft power -> developing socialist art + literature
• Promise never to pursue hegemony on world stage

Question 13

How did the 2008 crisis help China to build influence?

Answer 13

• Emerged in strong financial position
• Overtook Japan in 2014 as 2nd largest economy
• In developing world, bolstered credibility of China’s economic growth model
• Crisis caused reputational damage to US model of capitalism

Question 14

What is China’s greatest objective?

Answer 14

• Greatest objective is stability

- This objective drives its conduct

Question 15

Why does China need a stable global environment?

Answer 15

• Needs a stable growth environment to pursue the very high growth rates it needs
• Growth rates only slightly above minimum level needed to maintain employment, standards of living + CCP’s governing legitimacy

Question 16

How has China’s greater assertiveness in IOs been shown?

Answer 16

• Reflecting China’s growing economic might
• Seen in its ability to shape policies
• Ability to promote national interests
• Use IOs as a platform to project hard + soft power
• Has grown very direct in articulating its interests

Question 17

How has China’s expanding influence in IOs been shown?

Answer 17

• Influence over IOs has increased, esp. after financial crisis
• Increasing sensitivity in IOs to Chinese concerns -> more automatically factored into the decision-making of others

Question 18

How has China’s extreme effectiveness IOs been shown?

Answer 18

• Highly effective player in advancing own agenda + deflecting objectionable proposals
• e.g. negotiating skill it used to ensure an outcome to Copenhagen Climate Summit almost entirely in line with its own interests
• Results from high quality delegates China sends to participate in IOs

Question 19

How has China been playing a defensive game in some IOs?

Answer 19

• In APEC, China is an active participant solely to monitor agenda + deflect proposals it finds objectionable
• As US plays prominent role in APEC, China wants alternative IO (without China) to play same role

Question 20

How has China been an increasingly valuable + constructive participant in IOs?

Answer 20

China has made constructive contributions to UN peacekeeping operations

Question 21

How does China utilise its participation in IOs to promote the sanctity of its One China policy?

Answer 21

• Primacy of Taiwan
• Developing countries that adhere to One China = often recipients of Chinese aid programs
• In IOs, countries that don’t adhere face Chinese opposition
  e. g. In Asian Development Bank. China votes against every project for Solomon Islands (still recognise Taiwan)

Question 22

In short, China has become…

Answer 22

• Increasingly important trade partner (in many cases displacing the US)
• Increasingly important source of aid + development assistance
• Increasingly relevant + attractive model of economic development