Review on China's Engagement in African Peace and Security

正Since the setup of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperationin 2000, cooperation for peace and security has become animportant theme of Sino-African cooperation. Today, with thegrowth of China’s interests in Africa and the deepening of Sino-African relationship, more African countries extended invitations     

Europe-Africa Relations in Transition： From Dependence to Equals？

For a long time, relations between the European Union and Africa are not on an equal footing. As early as half a century ago, the European Community, predecessor of the EU, drove the former colonies of some member states into a framework of “special relationship” with the Community and established a system to keep them dependent on their former European suzerains through unequal trade and aid. Most of those countries that were driven into the system were African states. Such a system demonstrated the one-way control by the developed European countries over the developing African countries. With the continuous improvement of Africa＇s strategic position, ever since 2005, the EU, for its own economic and security interests, has issued with great fanfare policy documents on Africa, adjusting its policy toward the continent and proposing to make the “equal political partnership” between the EU and Africa as the primary objective of its Africa policy. However, due to historical and realistic reasons, it is not easy to achieve genuine equality between the EU and Africa; to make it a reality, colossal efforts have to be made.     

China＇s Engagement in African Security Cooperation： Evolution and Prospects

Although China began to engage in military cooperation with Africa quite soon after the founding of the People＇s Republic in 1949, there are as yet few articles on Sino-African security cooperation. Now, with a much closer security relationship between China and Africa, there is a need for more study of this issue. This article gives some idea of the evolution of Chinese engagement in African security cooperation and examines new opportunities for, and challenges to, a more active Chinese engagement in Africa in this domain.     

New Trends in the Relationship Between Major Western Countries and Africa

With the deep-going development of globalization and enhanced African unity for self-improvement, the international community is paying more and more attention to the standing of Africa and the role it plays. The United States, Japan, Russia, India and the European Union (EU), are strengthening and upgrading, out of their own needs, their political and economic relations with African countries in a bid to consolidate their strategic interests in the continent.     

Securing the New Silk Road

The renewed Chinese ambitions to develop trade along the different branches of the Silk Road bring several new traditional and non-traditional security challenges. The Chinese government has vowed to address them with new security concepts. Yet, these concepts might not be adequate to advance China’s security interests. Moreover, China seems to have difficulties overcoming the contradictions between different security interests: the quest for prosperity and the safeguarding of security; China’s economic aspirations and their consequence of becoming the largest economy; peaceful development and unification with Taiwan and the regain of lost territories; and the dilemma in the guiding diplomatic principles. As a result of these contradictions, Europe faces three uncertainties: How will the tensions in the Pacific develop? How will China seek to defend its interests along the New Silk Road? How will the tensions in the Pacific affect China’s behavior in the common Eurafrasian interface? These uncertainties bring about two more strategic choices for Europe: trying to continue its work with China along the Silk Road and balancing; prioritizing the huge challenges in the wedge of hardship and Europe’s immediate neighbourhood and responding calls to join the United States in its rebalancing to the Pacific. This will make it difficult to establish meaningful cooperation and to work towards burden sharing with the European Union at the other end of the Silk Road.     

China’s National Security Strategy

China has set four goals in its national security strategy in the coming decade. These are focused on safeguarding 1) sovereignty, security and territorial integrity; 2) the socialist system and related core values; 3) development interests by sustaining the current period of strategic opportunity in avoidance of unnecessary distractions; and finally 4) regional and world peace.     

The Maritime Channel in Southeast Asia and China’s Strategic Pivots

With its transition from land power to sea power and the rapid expansion of its national interests, the security of maritime channels has become an important agenda for China. China has shifted its focus from the dilemma of Malacca Strait to the construction of a sea-lane network in its bid to protect its maritime rights and interests. To build its sea power as a strong nation, China should follow its “21st Century Maritime Silk Road” strategy and establish its strategic pivots at harbors at Sumatra Island and Kalimantan Island in Indonesia so as to improve its ability to ensure its navigational safety.     

Conflicting and Complementary Elements in China and U.S.'s Policy towards Africa

Since the launching of the China-Africa Forum in 2000, the Chinese government has comprehensively strengthened its ties with Africa.China＇s trade, investment, and aid in Africa have been expanding. Africa has been placed at the forefront of national strategy. Also in 2000, President Bill Clinton signed the African Growth and Opportunity Act （AGOA）, increasing America＇s attention towards Africa. Since then, both China and the U.S. have been increasing their trade, investment, and aid in Africa. In 2011, the trade volume between China and Africa reached US$166.3 billion while that between the U.S. and Africa was US$113.2 billion. Unfortunately, China and the U.S. have not sought a cooperative pattern of action in Africa based on complementarity, mutual respect and mutual benefit. Instead, they have accused each other of bad conduct.     

A WISE STRATEGIC DECISION——Written in Celebration of Establishment of China-South Africa Diplomatic Ties

South Africa is to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic ofChina by the end of this year while cutting off its official ties with Taiwan.This will be a major event worthy of warm celebrations. It will usher in a newstage in the annals of bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation. The decisionfor the changeover in diplomatic recognition by the new South Africa Governmentis a wise, crucial strategic action taken after all-round deliberations on its long-termstate interests and carried out in accordance with diplomatic norms accepted in theinternational community. No doubt, it will exert positive impact worldwide.     

Analysis of the EU's Security-Development Nexus Aid Policy in Africa and Agenda 2063

The EU has provided a large amount of development assistance to Africa for many decades, but it has not been very effective.Particularly afterthe end of the cold war, many internal conflicts broke out in African countries, which had serious impacts on socio-economic development.This prompted the EU to connect development and security issues, and propose that development assistance to Africa should not merely focus on economic growth, but it should also help with post-conflict reconstruction and conflict prevention.It is only by incorporating security issues into development policy that assistance could be made effective and human rights could be protected.These ideas were made a central part of EU aid to Africa.This article attempts to describe the security-development nexus as it relates to the EU' s aid policy to Africa in the 21 st century;analyse the reasons behind this policy change and point out the shortcomings.From this, the paper also looks at how Africa and the EU are working together under the Agenda 2063 framework.     

ABSTRACTS

As a US--sold new geopolitical concept, the Indo--Pacific represents an ambitious attempt to sustain US leadership and maximize its interests in the Asia--Pacific and Indian Ocean region by emphasizing maritime security and exclusive al- liance/partnerships. India, Japan and Australia respond to the initiative on the basis of their respective interest calcula- tions and policy preferences and seek an important role. The strategic notion of the Indo--Pacific and its implementation will greatly influence the regional multilateral relationships as well as China＇ s policy options toward the changing security landscape.     

Protecting China＇s Overseas National Interests in Changing International Circumstances： Experience of Western Countries and What China Should Do

Developed countries in the West always attach great importance to protection of their overseas interests. Since the end of World War II, governments of these countries have been making unremitting efforts to protect the economic interests of their businesses and nationals in foreign countries and work to ensure their safety and security by establishing an international order in their favor and by every possible means - diplomatic, political, economic, legal and even military. To study and learn from experiences and lessons of Western powers is of great practical significance for China to develop and perfect relevant mechanisms and policies in protecting its own overseas interests.     

China is the Light and Hope for New Africa

正Friendship between China and Africa started slowly after a general meeting between Africa and Asia,the conference of Bun dung in 1955.Egypt was the first African country to have diplomatic relations with China in 1956,and later at the beginning of1960 the ten African countries followed.At the end of the 1970s a total of 44 countries out of 50 that were free also joined in diplomatic relations with     

On the Mechanism of the Internet’s Impacts on International Politics

The Internet expands the field for international politics. It unveils its inner operational logic by exerting its influence on international politics. The Internet, by either guiding or negating the conducts of actors through its own unique innate quality, forces these actors to obey its inherent laws so as to better maintain their own interests. Firstly, this paper attempts to reveal, through level analysis, how the Internet made an impact on international politics, namely by the route of the individual, state and international system. Secondly, taking state interest, power and security as the core of Internet’s action on international politics, it demonstrates that there is no absolute Internet freedom and that the interests and security of the state come before all. The third part of the paper illustrates the catalytical, synchronical and constructional role of the Internet in promoting the transition of international structure. As an information medium, the Internet helps promote changes in international politics. As an advanced technology, it helps international politics constantly identify itself with the development of the times. The all-inclusive interactive communication following the advent of microblogs and Social Networking Services (SNS) helps provide conditions in which international society is evolving itself into a world society in the world of Internet.     

The African Growth and the Participation of China

The debate on the involvement of China in Africa remains active; here in Beijing and in other fields, specialists of different areas analyze, discuss, and they look for hidden intentions regarding the new economical relationships that China has established with the African continent. From the point of view of an African it is fair to recognize that China has brought Africa to the center of the interest of the great countries of the western world.     

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.     

ABSTRACTS

The ongoing exit strategy will directly influence US interests in Afghanistan and the region as a whole, which moves beyond the stated goal of counterterrorism and involves complex calculus of gains and losses. Among crucial security pa rameters, at present, are the US-Afghan bilateral security agreement, Afghanistan＇s presidential election, and the post -exit measures of the 0bama administration. To envisage the uncertainty and challenges, the US feels hard to determine the emerging course and will continue to adapt different options to meet its maximal strategic benefits.     

Prospects for Sino-Russian Relations and China＇s National Interests in the Next Decade

The next 5-10 years will be a pivotal period in which China will implement its ＂ 11 th Five-Year Plan＂ and accelerate its construction of ＂ a moderately prosperous society.＂ It will also be an important period for Russia＇s resurgence. Sino-Russian relations are therefore facing new challenges and will be steadily developing. Under these new circumstances, clearly defining China＇s national interests in Sino-Russian relations will be an important prerequisite of ensuring the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations and of safeguarding China＇s peace and security. For the foreseeable future, China＇s national interests in Sino- Russian relations will be the further consolidation of mutual trust between the two countries and increasing Sino-Russian security cooperation so as to maintain peace and security in China ＇s northern border areas. As the two countries are both in a phase of social transformation, they can nevertheless learn from each other throughout this process. China will continue promoting diversity of cultures and the multi-polarization of world. China should also exploit Sino-Russian economic cooperation and try to frame a joint strategy with Russia in order to achieve common development and prosperity. Consequently, the two countries will be able to march forward side by side along the path of economic reforms and structural adjustment.＂ In the 21st Century, China and Russia not only need to maintain a good neighbor relationship and guarantee their joint security, but also build a closer cooperation in their common development.     

Unilateralism or Multilateralism?

Ever since the Bush administration took office, the U. S. national security strategy has given rise to much controversy. Whether the U. S. national security strategy is of unilateralism or multilateralistm is a question in dispute. Many people think it is a unilateralist strategy. According to their views, to achieve its own objective, the U. S. administration has rarely considered the interests and feelings of other coun-     

Northeast Asia amid Korean Detente

Northeast Asia has all along been a place of great importance for major powers in the Far East. Because of its special geographical position, these powers have competed against each other for spheres of influence in the region since the very beginning of the 20th century. Therefore, the present detente on the Korean peninsula will inevitably affect some big powers' interests and exert a far-reaching influence on Asia-Pacific and world security situation.