An Analysis of China's Power Status and International Standing

Many Chinese scholars have described China as the world＇s second biggest power after the U.S.. This is based on two facts. First, China overtook Japan in total economic output measured by GDP in 2010 to become the world＇s second biggest economy. Some scholars argue that China still lags behind the U.S. in comprehensive national power and in this sense it is also ranked second） The other is that Sino-U.S. relations are frequently described as the rise and fall of big powers, especially when referring to the Asia-Pacific region. It is the latest example of how relations between a rising power and one struggling to maintain its status have been so complex in the long history of international relations. While many people talk about the possibility that China will overtake the U.S. in the future, others talk about a G2.2 If we look closely at global trends and changes to China＇ s international environment, if we examine what exactly we mean by power status, we will have a much deeper understanding of China＇ s current power status from which we can build a solid foundation for this country＇ s foreign strategy and diplomacy.     

International System and China＇s Asia-Pacific Strategy

What impact does a shift in the global distribution of power have on the international order？ According to the views of traditional realists, power transitions in the international order are usually accompanied by major wars, the best example being the two world wars of the twentieth century. China＇s peaceful rise is conducive to the peace and stability of Asia and Pacific regions. The steady rise of China＇s position and its role in dealing with international and regional problems have proved China＇s success in ＂cooperative security＂. This paper analyzes the security order in the Asia-Pacific region1 that China wants to construct to provide important guarantees to its peaceful rise. Firstly, I review and compare key arguments about the transition of international systems and China＇s Asia-Pacific strategy, Secondly, I investigate the dynamics between China＇s peaceful rise and the ＂cooperative security＂ which I think are the collective embodiments of modem transformation and the restructuring of China＇s traditional strategic culture. Thirdly, I examine how to construct a mechanism of cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region to guarantee China＇s peaceful rise on both political and economic levels. Economic cooperation and free trade in Asia-Pacific region is an important route to regional economic integrity which will guarantee China＇s role in maintaining the political and economic security in the region.     

Chinese Think Tanks Face Great Development Opportunities

正The influence of new think tanks with Chinese characteristics on the government’s decisionmaking process is becoming ever greater.The Third Plenary Session of the 18thCentral Committee of the Communist Party of China,through top-to-bottom design,institutional development and instructions on international exchanges,has provided clear guidance for the development of Chinese think tanks and opened     

Financial Crisis and System Transformation

The China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations （CICIR） hosted a conference on ＂The International Financial Crisis and the Transformation of International System＂ on April 2nd, 2009, the same day that the G20 summit was held in London. The conference was chaired by Cui Liru, the President of the CICIR, and more than 20 well-known scholars from the CICIR and some other think tanks in Beijing participated. The current international financial crisis has had significant repercussions worldwide, and will have a far-reaching impact on the world economic and political pattern. How will the crisis affect the world economy and where is the way out？ How will it change the balance of international power and the world order？ What are China＇s choices？ These questions triggered a heated debate among the scholars.     

Spatial Economic Hubs and State Power

The paper seeks to analyze the rise of state power in the light of spatial economic shifts and examines the historical context of China＇s rise and challenges facing it. In world history, only countries that were spatial economic hubs have been able to enjoy prosperity over centuries. China is not yet such a country, despite its persistent efforts. Nor is China likely to become an economic hub in the foreseeable future. China is under mounting pressure from new economic demands posed by shifts in the geo-economic status of the U.S.. The fact that the global economy thrives along coastlines also causes problems for China, a country with a long coastline and a vast hinterland, creating rifts between northern and southern China, central and local governments, and different provinces. All these factors might well hinder China＇s development in the future.     

Learn from the Past Experience and Lessons and Push China-U.S. Relations to a Brighter Future

The relationship between China and the United States is the most important bilateral relations in the world. Though being the most complicated relationship, it has been managed as the most successful one in the world. In terms of population, territorial size, overall national strength and international status, both China and the United Sates are big countries with great influence in the world arena. The nature and value of such a relationship between major powers exceeds that of pure bilateral relations. China-U.S. relations not only have a close bearing on the fundamental interests of the two peoples, but also are of vital importance to world peace, security and development.     

Changes in China＇s Energy Situation and Its Strategy for Energy Security

As world consumption of energy grows fast, the proven petro- leum reserves are limited in today＇s world, and the oil price fluctuates and most often soars up sharply, energy has become a most crucial factor in the world economy and the energy security problem has increasingly become an important focus of attention for the international community. Owing to the big size and the fast growth-rate of China＇s economy, it is only too natural that China＇s energy situation, including its energy import, and its energy policy and strategy have been watched closely and discussed extensively by the whole world with wide-spread interest. It might be useful for this paper to give a brief account of the actual situation of China＇s energy production and consumption and China＇s relevant strategy for energy security.     

International Relations Think Tanks and Their Issues

The emergence of international relations think tanks reflects historic changes in China's relations with the world and is a result of China's need to better understand the international situation and to have a greater impact on it.It also reflects the thirst for "intellectual support" for foreign policy and strategy,and this is a sign of progress in China's governance system.     

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.     

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 Studies in Brussels

The China studies program emerging in Brussels, the heart of European Union （EU）, is the natural outcome of China＇s newly established prominence on the world stage. Brussels＇ China studies, compared with China studies in America and European countries, is unique. Knowing the history and the development of the current status of China studies in Brussels, we can do better in promoting not only China studies there, but also improve EU-China relations through Brussels＇ universities and institutes.     

Political Science in China： the Domestic Scene and a World Vision

Since the reforms of 1979, the subjects of China＇s political science studies have seen remarkable development. The article attempts a qualitative analysis of the progress made in the main fields of China＇s political science studies during the last decade. It deals with theories of international relations, research into strategy and security, international political economics, theories of comparative politics, China＇s local governance etc. There is still a wide gap between the subjects of China＇s political science studies and those in the rest of the world. China＇s academic circles should do more to air domestic issues and questions in the international academic arena.     

Rise of the Intermediate Forces and Structural Changes in the World Pattern

The international pattern, relations between the major powers,global hotspots and the world economy remain in the process of deep-going adjustment and transformation. Some tendencies in this process are of symbolic significance and worth our attention. Faced with opportunities and challenges, China＇s external environment has become more complex. China as well as the world is confronted with numerous tests.     

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.     

Confidence Building for Cybersecurity between China and the United States

In recent years, cybersecurity has become a contentious issue in the Sino-American relationship. Edward Snowden＇s revelations in 2013 of the United States government＇s surveillance around the world gave China an argument to counter American complaints that China was stealing intellectual property （IP） from American companies and research institutes. The United States government has repeatedly accused Chinese hackers of invading American corporate, proprietary economic data and stealing sensitive national security information. Meanwhile, the Chinese government is dissatisfied with the way that United States leaders and politicians instigate protests and social upheaval using the Internet.     

International System and China’s Asia-Pacific Strategy

What impact does a shift in the global distribution of power have on the international order? According to the views of traditional realists,power transitions in the international order are usually accompanied by major wars,the best example being the two world wars of the twentieth century.China’s peaceful rise is conducive to the peace and stability of Asia and Pacific regions.The steady rise of China’s position and its role in dealing with international and regional problems have proved China’s success in...     

Is China Threat a Hoax？

The Beijing Olympics has focused unprecedented worm attention on China this year. Many people hail the Games as an occasion that showcases China＇s growing contribution to world development and harmony. But intent on politicizing this global event, a few modern Cassandras still cling to the flawed China Threat theory. In this paper, the author traces the origins of this fallacious theory. He sees it as a product of Western empiricism viewed through an historical and philosophical prism. He argues that the assertion of threat arises from a generalization of historical facts. The assertion links China＇s growing clout with declining Western dominance in international affairs. Starting with the myth that peace is possible only among democracies, the theory predicts the inevitability of conflict between the West and China, a country with an alleged expansionist tradition and under an authoritarian system.     

Coercive/Institutional Hegemony and U. S. Status

Since the end of the Cold War, the world structure and America's status in the world have become important topics in international rela- tions. There have appeared three views about U. S. status in the post- Cold War years. The first view is that a unilateral system has been es- tablished, and the United States is the only pole dominating the inter- national system. Other nations including the second-class ones are not qualified to be poles. According to the second point of view, after the…     

Impact of the Chinese Model in Africa

The Chinese model has a fairly big influence in Africa. Ever since reform and opening-up, China has been focusing on the central task of economic construction, which brought rapid economic growth, strengthening comprehensive national power, improving lives of the people and extending international influence. The success of the Chinese model has aroused much interest in the world, especially Africa, and produced positive effects. It is the outcome of a combination of several factors, such as the attraction of China＇s development, the impetus produced by that development and the appeal of China＇s friendly policies. Nevertheless, China is not going to sell its model and ultimately Africa has to carve out its own way of development.     

Coercive/Institutional Hegemony and U.S. Status

Since the end of the Cold War, the world structure and America‘s status in the world have become important topics in international relations. There have appeared three views about U.S. status in the postCold War years. The first view is that a unilateral system has been established, and the United States is the only pole dominating the international system.……