Instruments OFFICIAL Flashcards
(30 cards)
Part 1: Foreign Policy Instruments
INTRO?
- In order to achieve their national interest, states must convert the power available to them into specific actions.
- This power takes form through various foreign policy instruments, which progress from peaceful to aggressive:
- Political Representations/ Information Programs (passes cultural values)
- Foreign Aid and assistance/ Humanitarian aid/ Trade
- International organisations
- Tariffs/ Boycotts and embargoes
- Blockades
- Military intervention/Conventional war
- Espionage and sabotage
- Clandestine military action/Nuclear War
Part 2: Main Policy Instruments Used to Try to Achieve Differing National Interests
Intro?
• In order to achieve its national interests, a state has many policy instruments open to it.
The ability to use these to achieve its aims is directly related to the power of the state:
the more powerful the state, then the more likely it is for it to achieve its national interests.
- However, power must be balanced alongside the desire to achieve other national interests and the relative power of the states in seeking influence.
- China seeks to achieve its national interests using a number of foreign policy instruments.
Diplomacy Definition?
Diplomacy: Refers to the entire process in which states conduct their foreign relations with another; a means for states to cooperate and by which they resolve conflicts without force. It is an instrument of foreign policy, and a vehicle through which a state asserts itself whilst seeking to achieve its national interests.
Diplomatic Power: Is the ability to influence the actions of other global actors through discussion and negotiation.
Diplomacy and China?
China: As a regional actor with global significance, and a state on the cusp of being a super-power, Beijing has access to many diplomatic instruments of power. Diplomacy allows Beijing to seek the achievement of its national interests in a less (or non) confrontational manner, reinforcing the relatively ‘unthreatening’ nature of its nature.
• China has sought to exercise its diplomatic power in a number of ways, including through:
1. Public denunciation (denouncements) of states which express sympathy for separatist groups
- Formal recognition of a state that does not recognise the sovereignty of any secessionist regions
- Limiting Taiwanese membership and participation in international organisations and events
- Use of its VETO in the UN to ensure the organisation doesn’t recognise or support separatist groups and to protect trading interests.
Diplomacy and China
1: Diplomacy for One China
(Territorial Integrity)?
Through Diplomatic instruments: The more that China is able to sway the international community away from support of separatist groups, the more difficult it will be for those groups or aspiring states to push for formal independence. This is an indicator of its success in regards to achievement of territorial integrity.
Diplomacy and China
1: Diplomacy for One China
(Territorial Integrity)
FIRST: Taiwan?
• The centre of Beijing’s ‘One China Policy’ is that there is only one China. As a result, the diplomatic recognition of only one China is central to the policy.
If both the PRC and ROC are recognised, then the One China ideal has been breached.
Diplomacy and China
1: Diplomacy for One China
(Territorial Integrity)
Taiwan
Cutting Links?
• States that choose to recognise the ROC have all links with Beijing cut. These links are primarily diplomatic, but they can also be economic.
This use of diplomatic Power has often been employed by China.
Diplomacy and China
1: Diplomacy for One China
(Territorial Integrity)
Taiwan
Security Council VETO?
• Whenever Taiwan applies for membership of the United Nations, China ensures that it is not approved by using its VETO and by persuading other states to oppose.
Diplomacy and China
1: Diplomacy for One China
(Territorial Integrity)
Taiwan
Chequebook Diplomacy?
Chequebook Diplomacy: Refers to the use of economic aid, trade, or investment as a means of gaining diplomatic favour from global actors. For example, China promised Cambodia, the chair of the ASEAN meeting in 2012, 500m for not permitting discussions regarding the Spratly Islands.
- Chequebook diplomacy is a foreign policy instrument successfully employed by Beijing, usually to limit support for secessionist provinces.
- China encourages or bribes states in the Asian Pacific region to not recognise the sovereignty of Taiwan through provision of direct and indirect aid, investment and other bilateral incentives.
- Chequebook diplomacy has been successfully limited support for Taiwan with only 6 states in the Oceania recognising its sovereignty compared to 24 states that recognise China’s.
- Chequebook diplomacy does not only affect China and Taiwan, its effects have spread into the global arena.
Diplomacy and China
1: Diplomacy for One China
(Territorial Integrity)
Tibet?
Security Council VETO
• Beijing has also successfully managed to stop the adoption of any resolutions within the UN that support the independence of the Tibetans
Public Denouncements
• When foreign leaders meet the Dalai Lama, uproar from Beijing ensues.
Diplomacy and China
11:Diplomacy for its International Role
(Peaceful Rise)?
Through Diplomatic instruments: China blab la bla about use of diplomacy in cultivating and establishing positive global image.
Diplomatic Power has also been utilised by China repeatedly in Beijing’s attempts to carve a role for itself in the international arena.
Beijing has also used diplomacy to play down regional fears of its rise.
Diplomacy and China
11:Diplomacy for its International Role
(Peaceful Rise)
UN Security Council Seat
This is mainly achieved through promoting its policy of non-interference by abstaining and VETOing UN resolutions which seek sanctions or intervention
However, this has the result of fuelling Western resentment.
Diplomacy and China
11:Diplomacy for its International Role
(Peaceful Rise)
Presidential Visits?
Ping Pong?
Joint Military Exercises?
Meetings and Presidential Visits
• Meetings with rival India in 2006 and Japan in 2008
• Met with President Obama three times (two official state visits) in two and half years after Obama’s inauguration.
Ping Pong Diplomacy
• President Hu engaged in Ping Pong diplomacy with Japanese Prime Minister in 2008.
Joint Military Exercises
• President Hu engaged in joint military exercise with rivals Japan and India in 2008
Diplomacy and China
11:Diplomacy for its International Role
(Peaceful Rise)
Summit Diplomacy?
Panda Diplomacy?
Summit Diplomacy/Public Statements or Announcements
• In April 2011, Beijing announced that it will engage more actively in diplomacy to meet national interests, primarily through what it has termed summit diplomacy.
Panda Diplomacy (soft/cultural power) • China has been using Pandas as an integral part of its diplomatic program
- China gives Pandas to states with which it seeks constructive relations.
- Pandas are seen as the ultimate diplomatic gesture because they are exclusive to China and are endangered.
- The program is an integral part of China’s use of ‘soft power’, as they are aimed at capturing the hearts of people in foreign countries, especially those of the younger generation, and win favour for china.
Diplomacy and China
111:Diplomacy for its Economic Development
Mechanisms?
UN Security Council Seat
• IRAN
• Opposing Sanctions against Myanmar and North Korea
• National Interest above will of International Community
Chequebook Diplomacy
• Cambodia and avoiding discussion of Spratly Islands at ASEAN; EC-DEV because it peruses those islands for ability to reap benefits of resources and fishing lanes there.
Trade definitions?
Trade: Refers to the exchange of goods and services between global actors.
Trade as a form of power: When used as a foreign policy instrument, involves the manipulation of the exchange of goods, services, labour and capital to influence the actions of another actor.
Trade and China?
- Beijing has increasingly been utilising its economic power to achieve its aims, in part because the Chinese Communist Party must produce economic growth to stay in power.
- This use has been staggeringly successful as Beijing’s influence ‘far exceeds its existing economic strength.
- China has sought to exercise its trade power in a number of ways by:
i) Encouraging trade with secessionist regions to stifle their demands
ii) Using trade as a carrot with which to entice states to recognise its sovereignty over secessionist movements.
iii) Facilitating direct investment into China
iv) Investing overseas to ensure access to raw materials required to maintain its economic development.
Trade and China
1:Trade-Territorial Integrity
Taiwan
Three Direct Links?
Beijing’s ‘Three Direct Links’ policy is a clear example of trade being used as a foreign policy instrument. The three direct links refer to direct mail, service, air and shipping services, and trade across the Taiwan Strait between China and Taiwan.
By forging trading links, these actions are an attempt by Beijing to be seen as a ‘good actor’ by offering incentives for Taiwan tore-join the mainland as opposed to military pressure, which has traditionally backfired. Beijing is making independence a less viable option for Taiwan (or an option with huge ramifications) and, at the same time, has developed a method of resolution which does not hamper its other national interests.
- By forging these links, China hopes to open up new opportunities for cross-strait economic cooperation which will benefit China’s economic development, thus bringing the two sides closer and making independence harder for Taiwan.
- By fostering economic growth, the national interests of China are served; reunification (one China) is more likely, economic growth is promoted and international standing is not affected since economic instruments of power are a peaceful means of resolution and so do not incur the preventative involvement of the International Community.
- By promoting and facilitating investment in the mainland, Beijing has created an economic crutch that neither Taiwan nor China can survive without.
- The basis of this policy is that these links are an inevitable requirement of constantly expanding cross strait contacts and should not be hampered by any artificial or political factors.
- Since 1979, the mainland has opened its markets to Taiwanese products, offering them preferential treatment, such as tax exemptions or reductions.
Trade and China
1:Trade-Territorial Integrity
Taiwan
Closing of Trade Links/Refusal to Trade?
Closing of Trade links refers to when China refuses to trade with states that recognise the sovereignty of the ROC. There is clearly much weight behind this ‘carrot’ approach given that China’s economy is the second largest in the world and the economic benefits it could bring to a state (through trading partnerships) are vast.
• This also involves the opening up of Trade links when states do recognise the sovereignty of the PRC, such as Costa Rica (chequebook diplomacy).
Trade and China
1:Trade-Territorial Integrity
Tibet
• Beijing has tried to use trade to Quell separatist claims in Tibet.
Augmented Investment
China’s use of augmented investment refers to Beijing’s attempts to forge economic growth (through augmented investment in Tibet) as a means of abating separatist demands within the province.
• However, these have been generally unsuccessful.
Trade and China
1:Trade-Territorial Integrity
Xinjiang?
• Beijing has tried to use trade to Quell separatist claims in Xinjiang
Growth/Raising of GDP
Achieving growth and raising GDP refers to an attempt by Beijing, in regard to the issues in Xinjiang province, to ‘heal’ it and achieve long term social stability. This will be achieved through leapfrog economic growth that aims to raise the GDP of the region, raise the annual income of both urban and rural residents, and increase local access to public services.
• Beijing’s plan was announced in May 2010, the goal of which is to achieve increased satisfaction and wellbeing and quality of the lifestyles’ of and from separatist’s inside the region.
Trade and China
11:Trade-Economic Development?
Foreign Direct Investment?
• Political instruments of power have been integral to opening up avenues for investment and trade for China, helping to achieve its central task of economic development.
Foreign Direct Investment
• Beijing has passed legislation to make foreign direct investment activities into the state more effective and efficient.
• While levels of FDI have slowed with the onset of the GFC, China was the second most popular destination for FDI in 2010 and thus it is an important source of economic growth to the state and, in turn, an important contributor towards social harmony.
Trade and China
111:Trade-Limitations?
However, Chinas use of trade as a foreign policy instrument, and its trading patterns, are not problem-free.
- As a result of its continued trade surplus Beijing has been accused of dumping products onto the global market at below cost, manipulating the value of its currency to benefit its manufacturers, and exploiting its workers for economic gain.
- In addition, China has been attacked for its record on protecting intellectual property rights and for its use of government subsidies to protect its domestic manufacturing sector.
Aid definitions?
Aid:
Refers to the transfer of goods and services between international actors in a concessionary basis. Aid occurs on bilateral, multilateral level from both government and the private sector and covers both grants and loans. Aid may be given without strings or may be attached in some way by the donor. Aid can be given for humanitarian reasons or may have overt political and economic connotations.
It is often as a means to alleviate short-term problems or may be part of a long term strategy for development.
Aid as a form of power:
When used as a foreign policy instrument, is the provision of assistance, predominantly monetary, to global actors with the intention of influencing their decisions and actions. China’s aid program has bolstered its diplomatic presence and garnered international goodwill in the developing world.
Chinas aid program differs substantially from that defined by the OECD as official development assistance and includes development aid, loans, technical assistance and state-sponsored investments, although its intention of bolstering development and providing economic benefits remain.
