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Becoming a full participant within these international mechanisms is the right choice for Chinese diplomacy in the new era. This is according to the latest “Report on Research into Conditions in China” issued by Center for China Study of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Tsinghua University.
The report says, since the advent of reform and the introduction of the policy of opening to the outside world, China has already made dramatic economic progress, the pace of its political democratization is quickening and the nation is shouldering more and more international responsibility. The end of the cold war has provided an opportunity for China to take its full place in the international community with the desire and ability to be a responsible member of this community.
Early in 1997, China declared its intention to be a responsible major power in international society. This sent a clear signal to the world.
How should China engage in the international mechanisms more actively and comprehensively? The report suggests this could be through four key activities:
Participation in the amendment and improvement of extant international mechanisms so that they might become more legally based, fair, democratic, effective and just;
Participation in the founding of new international mechanism so that their effects might be more positive;
Active participation in the decision-making processes of the international mechanisms; and
Taking a leading role when the time is right.
In other words, China should participate fully in the international mechanisms of today and aim to take on a leading role at some point in the future. This will ensure that China can play a full role commensurate with its position as a “responsible world power” and so contribute to the development of global democratization and multi-polarization, according to the report.
A strategy of full participation in international diplomacy would help create a peaceful and democratic global environment; it would promote China’s development and enhance China’s standing within the international community, says the report.
The report analyses that in principle this would safeguard China’s national interests, maintain independence, retain initiative, oppose hegemony, protect peace and better follow international practice on the basis of the “Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence.”
Moving on into the post cold-war era, the constructive, major power status of China has been increasingly recognized and welcomed by the international community.
The report points out, according to the publication “International Security Strategy in the 21st Century” issued by the US in December 1998, the future for peace and prosperity in Asia largely depends on China’s role as a responsible member of the international community.
The new Chinese report calls for China to seek to play a bigger role on the world stage. Both in furthering its own national interests and in promoting its global role, China should be a major player, actively and comprehensively participating in shaping, improving and developing international mechanisms. There must be a ‘Chinese factor’ in the global agenda, the report says.
(china.org.cn by Zheng Guihong, August 1, 2002)
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