International Order in the 21st Century and China''s Foreign Strategy

Dramatic changes have occurred in the post-Cold War world strategic configuration and international order with their replacements burgeoning. This confronts nations, big powers in particular, with new strategic choices. Indeed unfolding before us is a contention among them for seizing the initiative in the emerging international landscape in the 21st century.Thus how to correctly assess and respond to these changes for pursuing a reasonable strategy and selecting a right policy option is not only a matter of primary concern for the academic community, but also a major foreign policy task before a rapidly growing China. For this, a symposium on this theme was recently sponsored by the Editorial Department of Contemporary International Relations to solicit from a dozen or so Beijingbased well-known scholars and experts for their views on and policy suggestions for such issues as the current overall strategic picture, global configuration, trends of the international order and the strategic environment facing China. Excerpts of their major views are as follows.     

“Tibetan Independence” Means Restoration of Theocracy

The theocratic system of government, a political form featuring the marriage of state power and religious authority, has been cast off by history as it is in conflict with such values as political democracy, civil rights, individual freedom as well as science and civilization, pursued by modern society. In essence, “Tibetan independence” or “autonomy of a Greater Tibet region”, advocated by the Dalai clique, means none other than the restoration of the theocratic system that reigned in Tibet 59 years ago to deprive the emancipated Tibetan serfs and slaves of their political rights and individual freedom and negate the results achieved in the democratic reform launched in Tibet after the Dalai Lama fled abroad in 1959, a reform designed to separate church from government. It is an attempt to bring about a retrogression of history in Tibet against the historical trend of human progress.     

The Rise of Asian Defense Diplomacy： Convergence or Divergence in Sino-Australian Security Relations？

The rise of multilateral defense diplomacy in Asia is an important new phenomenon.In addition to the newly established ADMM+ process and the Shangri-La Dialogue(SLD) ,ASEAN defense ministers,ASEAN chiefs of defense and ASEAN chiefs of intelligence are now all meeting on a regular basis.Such gatherings were almost unthinkable as recently as a decade ago.This paper seeks to interpret these developments and their implications for the Sino-Australian security relationship.It argues that while these recent developments appear to reflect a deepening of Asian security cooperation,they are actually a manifestation of an intensifying institutional competition,namely between the ASEAN-centered ADMM and the Western-backed SLD.This,in turn,is symptomatic of a broader institutional contestation——reflecting underlying strategic competition——which is becoming a distinctive feature of Asia’s emerging security ‘architecture.’ The paper goes on to argue that China and Australia find themselves on opposite sides of this competition and,particularly in the area of defense diplomacy,are likely to become increasingly important players in fuelling it.The paper concludes by observing why such a dynamic is potentially problematic and offers a modest set of policy recommendations designed to assist Beijing and Canberra in addressing and alleviating their competitive tendencies.     

Nuclear Proliferation in the Post-Cold War Era

Nuclear weapons look set to stay with us, fulfilling as they do a different role from that of conventional weapons, in terms of their deadly potential for massive destruction. Indeed, nuclear weapons served as a stabilizing force during the hostile Cold War period. Sine the end of the Cold War, our world has undergone huge changes. Relative peace continues to be maintained on the basis of the logic of a ＂balance of terror＂, but the nuclear cloud hanging over human beings has never quite left us. Both the U.S. and Russia retain large nuclear arsenals, and a significant number of state and non-state actors on the stage of world politics continue to show interest in this lethal weapon. So-called ＂nuclear crises＂ flare up and test the wodd＇s nerves every now and again, and with some major nuclear powers continuing to make adjustments to their nuclear policies, the world nuclear proliferation position appears to be undergoing significant and profound change and transformation. In this article the author intends to help readers to become acquainted with the nuclear status quo as well as the characteristics of post-Cold War nuclear proliferation. The author also aims to help readers to understand the causes of the post-Cold War nuclear proliferation.     

Disadvantaged Groups and Asymmetric Conflicts

The article metaphorizes the relationship of extra-system actors with the world＇s dominant international system as a ＂jostle-to-board- the-train Game Model,＂ and transplants the disadvantaged group theory of domestic sociology to international relations. On the basis of this the author proposes a loss-driven model to explain the self-destructive asymmetric conflicts in the world today. As the result of two climaxes in the jostle to board the train games, the author argues that three structural changes have occurred： centralization of power, institutionalization, and legitimization in the international system. These changes have created a ＂spindle-shaped＂ system structure with international disadvantaged groups taking a passive role. Although this structure is highly stable, channels for international disadvantaged groups to express their interests are blocked. As the net losers in the established system and order, international disadvantaged groups have no alternative but to follow the loss-driven model to confront the strong. Their action of ＂beating stone with eggs＂ is surely not capable of overthrowing the whole system, but creates a significant potential threat to world stability and harmony.     

China''''s Economic Security at Stake

National economic security refers to the freedom of a sovereign state from any internal or external threats, either actual or perceived, to its economic interests. The notion varies in meaning from one country to another, due to their differences in security environment, cognition and defense capabilities. It took quite a long time for China to form its own definition in an overall, profound manner, with controversy still lingering among divergent interest groups and/or schools of thought. As the author sees it, formidable internal and external challenges threaten the country in this regard. We should maintain awareness of the risks from monopoly-driven mergers and acquisitions of foreign capital in a growing number of our industries.     

Are China and Russia Axis or Partners?

After experiencing many ups and downs in their relationship, China and Russia have forged a strategic partnership since the advent of the 21stcentury.While Russia's relations with the United States and the European Union have hit a rough patch, its ties with China are on an upward trend.Meanwhile, the United States and Europe are closely watching the two big neighbors in case of the event of a creation of an anti-Western "axis."Grounded in an analysis of the unique advantages of China-Russia relations, this paper argues that the two countries have established a high level of political trust and will continue to work in concert on all fronts.It also looks back at how China entered into alliances throughout its history and the lessons it has learned from those experiences.It emphasizes that China does not deem the establishment of exclusive alliances or political blocs as a foreign policy option.     

Return to Realism and Restart the Relationship

China attaches great importance to its relations with Canada.Over the years, the two countries have managed to develop an amicable and mutually beneficial relationship, which in the eyes of many serves as a model for countries with different social systems in their dealings with each other.     

SUMMARY

Gao Ge Located between big powers, the Central and East European countries often look up to the big powers or the big power groups for protection in choosing their road of development. Thus they are especially prone to the impact of the changing international relations, and are mostly modes transplanted from outside. Their Europeanization is also the transplantation of Western modes, but compared with the attempt to imitate the Western democracy as after the end of WWI and the mechan- ical copy of the Soviet mode following the outbreak of the cold war, the difference now is that the cur- rent transplant benefits from their own subjective will, the aptitude of their national conditions as well as their favorable internal and external conditions. They have got rid of the fate of defeat and the process of Europeanization has made remarkable progress.     

Bush Administration Has Its Biggest Diplomatic Legacy in Its Relations with China

An emerging China is embarking on the road of peaceful development. The statesmen and strategists in Washington have always felt anxious that late-coming powers might challenge the existing hegemony out of their discontent with the status quo. This was one of the reasons why America took China as a strategic rival at the early stage of the Bush presidency. But after the 9/11 incident, or even as early as in July that year when Secretary of State Collin Powell visited China, there was a major readjustment in American policy toward China. Both governments took cooperation as their important policy orientation.     

New Changes in the International Situation and China's Strategic Choices

The international situation is evolving more impressively than it has at any time since the end of the Cold War.Globalization has been in decline.Nations are scrambling to gain greater influence.The international strategic pattern is being adjusted.Many countries have problems with public management,and are faced with a new array of social trends and increasingly popular movements.The world is entering a new era full of chaos and anxiety.Mankind once again faces significant trade-offs and choices in peace and conflict,development and recession,openness and isolation,liberalism and conservatism.China strives to advocate win-win cooperation and lead the trend of reform and opening to maintain a favorable external environment despite world chaos,and enhance status and institutional rights in the international system.China's 30 years of development was successful in the process of integrating into the existing international system;China is a participant as well as a builder of the international system,rather than a challenger or a subversive.In the future,with a constructive attitude,China will promote the international system in a more reasonable direction together with international partners,in order to better safeguard world peace and security,and promote sustainable development throughout the world.     

China and the Pacific Island Countries

Since formal diplomatic relations between China and Fiji were established in 1975, China has gradually developed its bilateral and multilateral relations with the Pacific islands countries （PICs）. Especially in recent years, China has deepened its involvement in the South Pacific, and its influence in the region has been growing rapidly. Today, China appears to be one of the major players in the South Pacific region. This increased Chinese engagement has drawn wide attention in academic and political circles. While some scholars and analysts take a positive view of such an engagement, others are concerned about the rising presence of China in the region. Is China＇s engagement with the South Pacific a new strategic threat or not？ This paper will examine the major motives underlying China＇s engagement with the South Pacific and analyze the implications of China＇s engagement for the PICs and Australia.     

Middle East Transformation from the Perspective of U.S. Middle East Policy

The Middle East, one of the most turbulent regions in the world, has embarked on another round of chaos since America waged the Iraq war in 2003, new players vying to fill the power vacuum, entrenched hatred multiplying with new wounds. Ecstasy turned into agony as Americans watched the war unfold. U.S. think tank researchers and politicians, reflecting on the war and U.S. Middle East policy, urged the Bush administration to adjust the policy and break the strategic impasse. Under grave pressure from home and abroad, the White House finally began to respond. Against this backdrop, the year 2007 witnessed the most intensive and extensive shift of U.S. Middle East policy in recent years and a drastic return of realism in America＇s foreign policy. These policy changes rippled in the Middle East, precipitating policy changes of other powers and transformation of the geopolitical landscape. The Middle East, as we can see, is heading toward a new age of pain and growth.     

Three Contradictions in Russia＇s Approach to Ascendance

The dispatch of Russian troops to South Ossetia demonstrated Russia＇s determination to rise again and act as a global power. The Russian nation will encounter three contradictions on this path： in terms of the political system, the issue is whether to concentrate central power or practice liberal democracy; in economic development, to rely on the energy industry as a pillar of the economy or to optimize the national economic structure; and in diplomatic strategy, to hide capabilities and bide its time or to pursue a harsh line. Resolving these three contradictions will determine whether Russia can fully take its place as a global power.     

Characteristics of ＂East Turkistan＂ Terrorism and Future Prospects

The continuing threat of terrorism around the world has intensified interest in the perpetrators＇ characteristics to see whether a profile or type can be drawn from individual majority of today＇s terrorists features. Research has shown that a are young-to-middle-aged, male, psychological immature, insufficiently educated, and have a family of origin in which a religious atmosphere prevails. If motivations are studied, the studies find that individuals who commit extremist or violent terrorist acts are dissatisfied with the current situation but also convinced it can be successfully altered through their personal capability. Besides these factors of age, gender, education, and religion, a mastery of computers and the internet has been found to be a basic feature common to modern terrorists.1 The ＂East Turkistan＂ terrorists who instigated terrorist activities in recent years in Xinjiang and inland China closely resemble those of their international contemporaries. With access to the three sets of reports from the Ministry of Public Security of China and information from cases tried by national courts in 2013, this article analyzes the relationship between common individual features and terrorist activities, and estimates developments of ＂East Turkistan＂ terrorism.     

The Origin of the Iraqi Refugee Issue

The frequent conflicts and wars in Iraq have bred large floods of refugees. Millions of Iraqis were forced to leave their home and wandered about as refugees as a result of the Iran-Iraq war in 1980-1988 and Iraq＇s invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and later the Gulf war. In particular, the long-lasting Iraqi War that erupted in 2003 has brought about another and even bigger flood of refugees. The large number and serious impact of the issue of Iraqi refugees have attracted the high attention of the international community.     

Comparative Study on Chinese and U.S. Media

China and the United States are two countries with quite different histories, philosophies, values and political systems and because of these difference, the two countries have two quite different media. The most notable or maybe the most fundamental difference lies in the relationships of these two media with their respective govemmentso The Chinese medium is often a part of the government and the U.S.＇ medium is basically privatively owned. This makes them almost two different things, like an apple and an orange. In most of the case, one can not use one as the standard to criticize the other and vice versa.     

South Africa: Rebirth with a Promising Future Historic Event of Global Relevance

New Chapter opens in the history of South Africa, a nation born anew with theburial of the apartheid and the eventual demise of the white minority racistregime. Over thirty million oppressed blacks finally won their freedom to becomemasters of a new nation born in the firstever all-race election held last April. The African National Congress (ANC), with years of anti-apartheid record,won 252 seats in the election to the 400-seat National Assembly to come out as thelargest party of the country, followed by the original ruling National Party (NP)with 82 seats, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) with 43 seats and others with 23seats. ANC President, world-famous black leader Nelson Mandela, was elected asthe first black State President and the organization's National Chairman ThaboMbeki as First Deputy President. F.W. de Klerk, former State President andleader of the National Party remained in the new government as the Second DeputyPresident. An ANC-led government of national unity was inaugurated and swornin on May 10.     

Chinese Academic Researches on Democratization of International Relations： Status and Problems

After the Cold War, hegemony and power politics remained the major obstacles in the process of establishing a fair, just, inclusive and orderly global political volatile international and economic order. Due political and economic to the complicated and situation, promoting democratization of intemational relations as well as establishing a fair and reasonable global political and economic order have become the appeal of people in more and more countries. The Chinese government duly put forward its proposition of democratization of international relations to safeguard the basic interests of people in China and other countries in the world. It became one vital theoretical innovation in its diplomatic strategy. Under the guidance of this idea, the Chinese government is actively pushing forward democratization Of international relations with many developing countries.     

Response to Climate Change： China＇s Actions and Cooperation with EU

Along with the fast growth of world economy, industrialization in particular, global issues such as climate change have become common concerns of the international community. Climate diplomacy is also gradually becoming a hot topic on the international agenda. Climate change is a common challenge to the world and every country bears the responsibility to address this issue. China is highly concerned about climate change and hopes to work with EU and the rest of the world to meet this challenge.