＂Deindustrialization＂ and Sino-Brazilian Ties

After the global financial crisis broke out in 2008, major industrial economies became concerned about delndustrlahzation . The important roles that the industrial sector plays in creating jobs and ensuring intemational competitiveness began to be recognized again. The U.S. launched its policy of ＂re-industrialization＂ and Brazil published a plan to develop its industrial sector between 2011 and 2014. China＇s industrial sector has rapidly developed. ＂Deindustrialization＂ sparked widespread concern because it is connected with the global distribution of technological capability and the future global economic order. It is noteworthy that the U.S., Brazil and some other major economies partly blamed China for the problems that ＂deindustrialization＂ has caused and this has had an increasing effect on China＇ s relations with these countries. It reflects China＇ s problem as a new manufacturing power. In this article, the author analyzes those political and economic factors associated with ＂deindustrialization＂ and makes some suggestions for the Sino-Brazilian strategic partnership. In this way, the author explores some ideas on establishing a new type of big power relations.     

Persisting in the Strategy of ＂Keeping a Low Profile＂ and Enhancing the Awareness of ＂Trying to Do Something＂

Since reform and opening up and in recent years in particular,China＇s overall national strength has been growing noticeably. The speed of China＇s development has attracted worldwide attention. Its aggregate national strength is already among the top few in the world with a momentum of continuous growing. In 2009, under severe impacts and influence of the financial crisis,     

The Clash in Public Opinion between Europe and China： What, How and Why

Recent years have seen a tension between Europe and China in public opinion, which began in 2006 and climaxed in 2008 when the Tibet riots and the Beijing Olympics put China under the global spotlight. Europeans and Chinese view each other more negatively than in ＂the good old days＂ and there is a growing perception gap regarding the Chinese government. The media （including the Internet） and public opinion leaders （scholars, human rights activists, dissidents, politicians and diplomats） have played a part in causing this both in Europe and in China, and this paper examines their roles. This paper also identifies three reasons behind the clash of viewpoints： First, lack of common values has exacerbated Europe＇s fear of a rising China; second, both Europe and China use this hostility to help redefine their self-identity; third, different development needs in China and Europe have nurtured very different mindsets. In the future, the European public＇s interest in China will continue to grow and Europe＇s and China＇s perceptions of each other will gradually stabilize. In the long run, whether Europe will accept a rising China depends on China＇s ability to develop a ＂Chinese thinking＂ which suits both China＇s and the world＇s development needs.     

An Uncertain Moment: the Dilemmas Facing European Democracy

The recent European debt crisis unexpectedly prolonged the region＇s woes following the global financial tsunami of 2008. From 2012, an uneasiness has been brewing over whether the debt crisis was not just an economic crisis but also a political one. The media has been awash with terms such as ＂democratic deficit＂, ＂legitimacy crisis＂ and ＂democratic crisis＂.1 German sociologist Jurgen Habermas lamented： ＂Sometime after 2008, I understood that the process of expansion, integration and democratization doesn＇t automatically move forward of its own accord, that it＇ s reversible, that for the first time in the history of the EU, we are actually experiencing a dismantling of democracy. I didn＇t think this was possible. We＇ ve reached a crossroads.＂2 In 2013, the theme of the Political Studies Association Annual International Conference in the UK was ＂The Party＇s Over？＂.     

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.     

NATO＇s Strategic Readjustment

In April 2009, the NATO Strasbourg-Kehl Summit adopted a series of joint declarations and strategic plans, demonstrating that NATO is entering a new round of military-political strategic adjustment. NATO＇s new strategic direction has been motivated by various internal and external factors, including the pressure of the new international environment, the Obama administration＇s desire to upgrade strategic cooperation with its allies, the major European states represented by France and Germany seeking to strengthen the European pillar within NATO, and the urgent need to readjust NATO＇s external relations. The aim of the strategic readjustment is to advance NATO＇s military and political transformation from a regional collective defense organization into a more active and powerful Western military-political alliance. NATO is still facing a series of difficulties and challenges： the disappearance of the common threat of the Soviet bloc, the differing interests of the member states, and the fluctuation of real strength within the NATO will all impose constraints on NATO＇s development. Thus, there are still doubts and uncertainties about NATO＇s future role and position.     

The Debt Crisis： Prospects for the Eurozone

The Eurozone is the world＇s first ever single-currency region made up of different sovereign states. Because there are no other historical models to learn from, its stability has been a contentious issue. With no end in sight for the sovereign debt crisis, academic circles have been focusing on the Eurozone＇s future. This article analyzes a number of responses for overcoming its current difficulties and seeks to predict future outcomes based on these analyses.     

The Future of the EU and Sino-EU Relations

Since the end of 2009,sovereign debt crises have erupted one after the other in Greece,Ireland,Portugal and Spain.Until now,the EU has not been able to keep this run of debt crises in check.Anxieties over the future of the European Union and the eurozone are mounting.American historian Walter Laquer has argued that economic decline,diplomatic weakness,and internal tensions could lead to the collapse of the EU.1 Philip Stephens,columnist for the Financial Times,wrote:"At the opening of the millennium the European Union seemed a confident role model.The assumption was that the postmodern multilateralism symbolized by the euro would be exported to rising nations and regions.Now there are questions as to whether Europe itself can hold together."2 This paper aims to understand the current situation and the future of the EU by examining the European sovereign debt crisis and its socio-political impact on European integration.It also analyzes the reasons behind the worsening of the debt crisis,the future of European integration,and China's policy toward Europe.     

Scientific Outlook on Development and China＇s Foreign Policy

More than half a century has passed since the founding of the People＇s Republic of China. There have been successes as well as failures in China＇s policies and practices at home and abroad. The failures are stepping stones for success; lessons drawn from errors lead to truth. Chinese leader Hu Jintao recently spoke about ＂Scientific Outlook on Development, ＂＇ a summary of past history and an important guiding principle for China＇s economic and social development both now and in future. The authors believe that this is a major development in China＇s strategic thinking following Deng Xiaoping＇s ＂Reform and Opening Up＂ and Jiang Zemin＇s ＂Three Representatives＂ and that it should be upheld and applied to foreign policy decision making.     

U.S.-China Relations: A View from Europe

China is playing a crucial role in the Obama administration＇s attempt to build a ＂multi-partner world＂ based on cooperation and shared responsibilities. In light of the profound geo-economic transformations of 2008-2009, the United States has little choice but to strive for partnership, especially with the country that is Washington＇s major creditor. Obama＇s foreign policy approach, however, goes beyond a mere pragmatic adaptation to the new realities and constitutes a unique window of opportunity for the establishment of an unprecedented level of U.S.-China cooperation. From a European perspective, the positive evolution in U.S.-China cooperation has been welcomed as a key contribution to the resolution of the global problems confronting the planet. The European Union has nevertheless reacted with apprehension to the suggestions by American commentators for the creation of a U.S.-China ＂G-2＂. That issue was discussed at the EU-China Summit underlines the seriousness of the proposal and serves, in itself, as a significant indicator of the great transformation of intemational relations characterizing the years 2008-2009.     

EU Security Strategy

The European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) comprises an important part of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).The aim of ESDP is to strengthen the EU's external ability to act through the development of civilian and military capabilities for international conflict prevention and crisis management. In December 2003, the EU adopted its first European Security Strategy (ESS). Ever since then, the implementation of the ESS has been regarded as one of the biggest challenges for the EU in CFSP/ESDP matters. Although much progress has been made in its independent security and defence-building process, EU still faces serious problems and difficulties in this policy area. This paper tries to examine these recent developments, assess their impacts in regional-global security, and analyze existing problems and future trends. Finally, the author also examines EU-China engagements in recent years and explores possibilities for their future cooperation in the area of international security.     

China＇s International Orientation in the Fast- Changing International Situation

The financial crisis is having a great impact on the worldeconomic and political structure. At the same time, it has brought important opportunities to China, a country in a crucial stage of development. The crisis has demonstrated China＇s importance and positive role in international economy, and provided it with favorable conditions to enhance its international influence and status.     

The ＂Abe/Aso Regime＂ and Sino-Japanese Relations

Following the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party＇s victory in the December 2012 election, some Japanese analysts pointed out that the new Abe/Aso Govemment would introduce rightist policies, and that as such it would be more difficult for China and Japan to improve their bilateral relations. As expected, in the past six months since its coming to power, the Abe cabinet has vigorously promoted so-called ＂Abe economics＂ and implemented a quantitative easing monetary policy that has caused a drastic depreciation of the Japanese Yen. In order to revise the ＂Constitution of Japan＂, in July 2013 it has been striving to win the election of the Senate. Externally, the new cabinet members have frequently visited foreign countries, implementing a diplomatic strategy of containing and countering China. One of its aims is to completely rid itself of the shackles of World War II and to try to reconstruct powerful military forces. The Diaoyu Islands issue has been used by the Abe cabinet to serve its domestic and foreign policy objectives,     

On Democratic Deficit in the European Union

The problem of democratic deficit has always existed in the European Union （EU）. After the end of the Cold War, this problem has become more conspicuous. The EU constitutional crisis in 2005 was virtually brought on by it. How to solve this problem has become a key to the EU＇s future development.     

Adjusting China＇ s Strategic Thinking and Positive Response to the Serious Challenges of Japanese Militarism

In recent years, China＇s strategic pressure has increased as U.S. strategic anxiety has deepened and its global strategic focus has shiftedeast. With difficulties home and abroad, the U.S. has taken measures to ＂put Japan out＂, and to allow Japan to be the U.S. ＇s important strategic fulcrum in the Asia-Pacific region, as a means of restricting China. This is the important background for Japanese militarism.     

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.     

China＇s Think Tanks in Global Transition

With China now the world＇s second-largest economy,the status and role of China＇s think tanks have become an increasing concem.On the whole,the international status of China＇ s think tanks is not commensurate with the country＇ s current international status.The University of Pennsylvania＇ s The Global Go To Think Tanks Report published in 2014 said that as of August 2013,China had 426 think tanks,second only to the U.S.with 1,828.But of the top 100 non-U.S.think tanks in the world only 5 are Chinese,and in the 150 most influential global think tanks,only 6 are from China—with the rest mostly from Europe.China＇ s think tanks lack professionalism and influence.1 This is why China has been pushing to improve its think tanks internationally.In April 2013,President Xi Jinping proposed building a ＂new think tank with Chinese characteristics＂.     

The Struggling European Union Needs to Reform

In the past few years,the European Union has been plagued by difficulties from both the interior and exterior.The situation has grown worse recently with crises and overlapping problems:Brexit,the refugee crisis,the banking crisis.The EU is like a great mansion on the point of collapse.     

ABSTRACTS

With the date of NATO＇s International Security Assistance Forces withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014 approaching, the contention among big powers in the region is getting more complex and intense. Such a withdrawal will not only make the US and NATO face serious challenges, but also the Central Asian region face bigger risks. Afghanistan＇s future is full of uncertainties. In view of her future strategic need in the region, China should get herself well prepared and planned for the＂post NATO era＂in Afghanistan.     

U.S.-China-Japan Relations and China＇ s Strategic Choices

japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe＇s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine has escalated tensions between China and Japan that were triggered by the Diaoyu Islands dispute. Changes in the balance of power between China and Japan have caused concerns and strategic restlessness in Japan. Because of public opinion and his party＇s control of the House of Representatives and Senate, Abe is now eager to further his aims both domestically and overseas. That is why he said： ＂Now is the time for Japan to take the big step in building a new state.＂ The U.S. supports a stronger Japan because it is looking to maintain the strategic balance in the Asia-Pacific region. Its Asia-Pacific Rebalancing strategy is bound to inflame Japan＇s ambitions. In fact, Japan has been actively pursuing stronger ties with the U.S. and became more aggressive over the Diaoyu Islands issue.