A Comparative Analysis of Abe＇s and Fukuda＇s Asia Diplomacy

As Abe was replaced by Fukuda, Japan＇s domestic and foreign policies were also amended. Abe＇s ＂proactive diplomacy＂ has been replaced by Fukuda＇s ＂synergy diplomacy＂ which emphasizes strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance and Japan＇s ties with Asia. Abe＇s diplomacy toward Asia was characterized by ＂value oriented diplomacy＂, whereas Fukuda seeks to carry out ＂active diplomacy toward Asia＂ after his cabinet was formed. The changes in foreign policy of the Abe and Fukuda cabinets show that Japan＇s nationalist foreign policy is evolving in twists and turns from being radical to being more rational against the backdrop of domestic and international political reality. To explore this change and its causes is conducive to the better understanding of some features of Japan＇s diplomacy toward Asia.     

Great Reform of China＇s Diplomacy

With the implementation by China of the policy of reform and opening to the outside world, China＇s diplomacy has undergone a great reform of profound significance, and has made outstanding achievements. China＇s development and its diplomacy supplement, enrich and promote each other. The former provides good conditions for the latter＇s development, while the latter safeguards China＇s sovereignty and territorial integrity, creates a peaceful international environment for the country＇s cause of socialist construction with Chinese characteristics, and makes remarkable contributions to the great undertaking of reform and opening-up and the Four Modernizations.     

Chinas ＂Host Diplomacy＂： Opportunities

When asked for his outlook on China＇s 2014 diplomacy at a press conference in early 2014, Foreign Minister Wang Yi listed w the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia （CICA） and the informal summit meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation （APEC）, both of which are in China this year, as the country＇s two key diplomatic events in 2014. He labeled these two events as examples of China＇s so-called ＂hosr diplomacy.＂     

Diplomatic and Security Strategies of the Obama Administration： Has the ＂Time of Change＂ Come？

It is of great significance to study the diplomacy and security strategies of the Obama administration which took office on 20th January 2009, not only because of the current global financial crisis but also because of Obama＇s ＂politics of change＂, a slogan raised by him in the campaign. How to lead America out of the seemingly ＂still deteriorating domestic financial and economic dilemma is not only the most important criterion for judging Obama＇s governance capability but also the biggest obstacle affecting the new Democrat administration＇s domestic and foreign policies. To analyze the adjustments of the Obama administration＇s foreign and security policies, we must focus our attention on how it will take corresponding measures to overcome the financial crisis and how to put its campaign slogan ＂politics of change＂ into practice. In retrospect of the Obama administration＇s first three-month performance, the ＂politics of change＂ promised by him has dramatically evolved into the ＂diplomacy of change＂ first. In the following sections, we will thoroughly analyze the trend of the new administration＇s diplomatic and security strategies on the basis of its first one-hundred-day performance.     

The Core of China＇s Model

＂China＇s Model＂ is the outcome of China＇s political and economic development since China＇s reform and opening up and the globalization trend. It can be described as a dynamic framework of ＂One body with two wings＂, with Chinese Marxism as its core of guiding principles, and the interrelated spheres of political and economic development the two ＂wings＂ which grow from it. China＇s Model is not static, but the product of a continuous process of development. It represents a unity of opposites, blending national characteristics and international features.     

Editor＇s Note

China has attached great importance in handling relations in neighborhood as the work of diplomacy with its neighbors is incredibly heavy, since the founding of the People＇s Republic of China. Zheng Ruixiang, Senior Research Fellow at China Institute of International Studies, made an account of the great achievements of China＇s diplomacy in neighborhood in his article Creating a Peaceful and Stable Neighboring Environment.     

CONTRIBUTION GUIDELINES

Published by China Institute of International Studies, China International Studies is China＇s first English-language journal on diplomacy and international politics for formal circulation. The magazine mainly publishes the latest research achievements of Chinese scholars and specialists on China＇s diplomacy, international politics and international relations under such columns as China＇s Diplomacy, International Relations, International Politics, International Security,     

China's New Neighboring Diplomacy

China＇s new thinking about neighboring diplomacy in Asia since the end of Cold War can be analyzed theoretically from angle of international institutions. China utilizes institutionalism with great flexibility in four sub-regions-Central Asia, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia, where institutional models-dominant participation, deep participation, active participation and moderate participation models have been adopted. In the four sub-regions in Asia, China has handled the presence of U.S interests well and responded reasonably to the United States＇ Asian diplomacy. China and the United States have therefore achieved a compatible coexistence in Asia. Compatibility and coexistence between China and the United States in Asia are the fundamental reasons that China has made progress in this new stage, and are the essence of the new thinking in China＇s neighboring diplomacy.     

Guide to Authors

Published by China Institute of International Studies, China International Studies is China＇s first English-language journal on diplomacy and international politics for formal circulation. The magazine mainly publishes the latest research achievements of Chinese scholars and specialists on China＇s diplomacy, international politics and international relations under such columns as China＇s Diplomacy, International Relations, International Politics, International Security, Regional Issues and World Economy. The journal pursues a serious and down-to-earth style and promotes academic democracy.     

Guide to Authors

Published by China Institute of International Studies, China International Studies is China＇s first English-language journal on diplomacy and international politics for formal circulation. The magazine mainly publishes the latest research achievements of Chinese scholars and specialists on China＇s diplomacy, international politics and international relations under such columns as China＇s Diplomacy, International Relations, International Politics, International Security, Regional Issues and World Economy. The journal pursues a serious and down-to-earth style and promotes academic democracy.     

CONTRIBUTION GUIDELINES

Published by China Institute of International Studies, China International Studies is China＇s first English-language journal on diplomacy and international politics for formal circulation. The magazine mainly publishes the latest research achievements of Chinese scholars and specialists on China＇s diplomacy, international politics and international relations under such columns as China＇s Diplomacy, International Relations, International Politics, International Security, Regional Issues and World Economy. The journal pursues a serious and down-to-earth style and promotes academic democracy.     

National Objectives vs. Strategic Choices:——Lessons from Chinese Diplomacy

Modernization, national reunification, social reform and revival as a great power -- these four broad objectives represent China＇s core interests. They have been the defining strategic factors at work behind the dynamics of Chinese diplomacy since 1949. These factors have undergone periods of ＂leaning to one side＂ （toward Moscow） in the early years, ＂opposing two hegemonic powers＂ in the late 1950s, forging ＂one battle line＂ of a global anti-Soviet united front in the 1970s and pursuing a ＂multidimensional＂ diplomacy up to the present. Both positive and negative historical experience of the 60-odd years offers us much food for thought.     

Improving Public Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics

The term ＂public diplomacy＂ was first used in 1965 by the Dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University. The term has no fixed definition no matter in China or other countries. Scholars agree on some points but disagree on some others. The Dictionary of International Relations Terms compiled by the U.S. Department of State in 1987 illustrates that public diplomacy refers to government-sponsored programs intended to understand, inform or influence public opinion in other ＂countries, reduce foreign governments＇ and public＇s misperceptions on the United States, enhance the image and influence of the United States in overseas public and promote national interest;     

Relations between China and CEE Countries： Development,Challenges and Recommendations

In China＇s diplomacy, the term ＂Central and Eastern European countries＂ （CEE countries） refers to a geographic area. It alsocontains multi-dimensional political concepts of ideology and geopolitics. During the Cold-War era, CEE countries included all socialist countries in Europe other than the Soviet Union.     

Some Thoughts on Deepening Economic Diplomacy

Since the founding of the People＇s Republic of China, the nation has paid a great deal of attention to economic diplomacy. In particular, since the launch of the reform and opening-up policy and its accession to the World Trade Organization, China has made great achievements in economic diplomacy, which has grown and improved in terms of patterns, objectives and contents. In the 21st century, globalization offers both opportunities and challenges, and international economic cooperation and competition have played an important role in foreign relations. Economic diplomacy has been increasingly important in terms of diplomacy. As we encounter new problems and face new challenges, we urgently require new breakthroughs in economic diplomacy.     

China''s Military Diplomacy

Since the end of the Cold War, China＇s military diplomacy has displayed an omni-directional and multi-level form, and with an increasing transparency which has increased trust and reduced doubt. China has enhanced its conventional military functions and strengthened its military soft power. This has helped China develop into a responsible state on the world stage. Through military exchanges with other countries, the Chinese military has gradually strengthened its ability to undertake a variety of tasks. The Chinese military has to make greater efforts to counter the perception of a ＂China threat.＂ There is also a need to establish a system of military spokesmen and to develop a theory of military diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.     

＂New Thinking＂ in Japan＇s Diplomacy--On the New Fukuda Doctrine

In September 2008, Yasuo Fukuda resigned after serving for a year as prime minister, and then Taro Aso formed a new cabinet. Due to the boycott of the opposition parties in the Diet, which wielded the majority, the Fukuda cabinet had achieved little in terms of internal affair. In foreign affairs, however, it left a deep impression by improving relations with China and advancing the New Fukuda Doctrine. As for the Aso cabinet, people were once worried that troubles might erupt in China-Japan relations given Aso＇s past stand. But since taking office as prime minister, Aso has kept a positive attitude toward promoting China-Japan relations and Asian diplomacy. Then what are the new considerations of Japan in its Asian diplomacy and Japan-China relations？ What position do China-Japan relations occupy in Japan＇s Asian diplomacy？ What are the tendencies of Japan＇s Asian diplomacy and its China policy？ All these issues warrant in-depth probing.     

New Features of the Surrounding International Environment and China＇s Response

In constructing China＇s strategic diplomatic configuration, we often stress -that ＂major power relations are critical, the surrounding areas are the policy priorities, developing countries are the foundation, and the multilateral relations are important arena＂. After the CPC 18th National Congress, ＂public diplomacy＂ and ＂global governance＂ were also defined as the new orientation in China＇s diplomatic efforts. In designing China＇s diplomatic strategy, we have always considered the major powers and surrounding areas to be our diplomatic priority. The reality is the same.     

China＇s Diplomacy： Ten Features

After three decades of reform and opening up, China＇s diplomacy displays the following ten features： 1. the three interlocked goals of development, sovereignty and responsibility; 2. maintaining ＂a low profile＂ while ＂acknowledging some accomplishments＂; 3. a principled, yet restrained stance in pushing for an improved international order. 4. multi-tiered, mutually complementary diplomatic endeavors; 5. four close-knit diplomatic fronts; 6. the intrinsically compatible concepts of ＂a harmonious society＂ and ＂a harmonious world＂; 7. the renewed principle of non-intervention; 8. the evolving ＂people first＂ concept thinking; 9. guidelines with continuity and innovation; 10. an orderly, gradualist diplomacy diplomatic transition.     

Cultural Diplomacy and a Harmonious World

The cultural diplomacy of China today has entered into a period of rapid development. Yet there is still much room for improvement in promoting China＇s new diplomatic thinking. In step with China＇s growing economy and increased weight in international affairs, the Chinese government has changed its diplomatic strategy to ＂building a harmonious world.＂ To make this concept more attractive and acceptable to other countries and peoples, China should expand its soft power resources, strengthen international cultural exchanges to draw on the fine achievements of foreign cultures, enhance the influence of Chinese culture worldwide, exploit new channels for international cultural exchanges, develop its cultural industry, and improve its comprehensive power.