Critical Decade, A: China's Foreign Policy (2008-2018). Zhiqun Zhu
the United States in 2017–2018. The number of American students studying in China peaked in 2011–2012 with 14,887 and declined to 11,910 in 2016–2017. Every year an additional 2,500 or so American students study in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The number of American students studying in China is roughly about one third of American students studying in the United Kingdom each year.
About the Author
Dr. Zhu’s teaching and research interests include Chinese politics and foreign policy, East Asian political economy, and US–China relations. He has authored and edited over 10 books, including Understanding East Asia’s Economic “Miracles” (Association for Asian Studies, 2016), China’s New Diplomacy: Rationale, Strategies and Significance (Ashgate, 2013), New Dynamics in East Asian Politics: Security, Political Economy, and Society (Continuum International, 2012), and US–China Relations in the 21st Century: Power Transition and Peace (Routledge, 2006).
Contents
Chronology: Major Events Related to China’s Foreign Relations (2000–2018)
Chapter 1Chinese Foreign Policy in a Rapidly Changing World: An Introduction
Chapter 2Chinese Foreign Policy: A Bibliographical Review
Part IISelected Essays on Chinese Foreign Policy (2008–2018)
Chapter 5China’s Relations with India and Japan
Chapter 7Global and Regional Cooperation
Part IIIChallenges and Prospects
Chapter 8Geostrategic Challenges of the Belt and Road Initiative
Chapter 9Going Global 2.0: China’s Growing Investment in the West and Its Impact
Chapter 10Pitfalls in China’s Soft Power Promotion
Chapter
1
Chinese Foreign Policy in a Rapidly Changing World: An Introduction
The decade from 2008 to 2018 is a significant period in contemporary Chinese history and politics. It was during this critical decade that China emerged as a major economic, diplomatic, and military power in the world. China’s rise is fundamentally shaping the 21st century world history.
In 2008, Beijing successfully hosted the Summer Olympics, with splendid opening and closing ceremonies. Dubbed the “coming out party” for China, the Olympics greatly boosted national pride at home and prestige abroad. By then the People’s Republic of China (PRC) had become a major player in international political economy. In 2010, it replaced Japan as the second largest economy and was projected to catch up with the United States within a decade or two. During the critical decade of 2008–2018, President Xi Jinping proposed “One Belt One Road” (一带一路) or the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the “Chinese Dream” (中国梦), and “a community with a shared future for mankind” (人类命运共同体), which would all have long-term impacts for China and the rest of the world. China also made progress toward achieving the “Two Centenary Goals” (两个一百年奋斗目标) — to finish building a moderately prosperous society by the time the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) celebrates its centenary in 2021, and to turn China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, and harmonious by the time the PRC celebrates its centenary in 2049. China is not a sleeping giant anymore; it has risen. Though it faces tremendous domestic challenges such as a widening income gap, a deteriorating environment, and growing public discontent, China continues to impress the world by making one achievement after another, which has added much confidence to policymakers in Beijing while causing concerns in other capitals. Undoubtedly, Chinese politics and foreign policy will have significant influence on international politics, economics, and security in the decades ahead.
Chinese foreign policy has been undergoing major transformations since the beginning of the 21st century. The emergence of Xi Jinping as a strong leader brought about many changes in Chinese politics and foreign policy. Deng Xiaoping’s dictum Tao Guang Yang Hui (韬光养晦, roughly translated as “keeping a low profile”) seems to be a thing of the past, giving way to You Suo Zuo Wei (有所作为, roughly “getting some things done”). Xi became General Secretary of the CCP at the 18th Party Congress in fall 2012 and President of the PRC in spring 2013. He consolidated power at the 19th Party Congress in fall 2017, adding the Xi Jinping Thought into the CCP Constitution. In March 2018, the Chinese Constitution was amended at the annual National People’s Congress (NPC) meeting, removing the two-term limit for presidency which was introduced during the Deng era and followed by Xi’s predecessors Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao. Meanwhile, Chinese foreign policy has become more active and assertive. On issues regarding China’s sovereignty, such as the South China Sea and Taiwan, China’s policies have become more forceful. China remains adamant and uncompromising on such issues related to its “core interests.”1
China is more involved in global governance now. It first proposed the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in 2013. In 2015, the AIIB went operational with headquarters in Beijing and has provided valuable support for development projects in many Asian countries since then. The AIIB has quickly emerged as a dynamic international financial institution with members from countries in every continent. Even Japan and the United States, which initially did not support the new bank, have been working with China and other members of the bank. Also in 2015, China cooperated with other BRICS nations and established the BRICS Development Bank with headquarters in Shanghai, which promotes further financial and economic cooperation among