Facing Challenges and Shocks with Rationality

The Iraqi War breaking out on March 20, 2003 undoubtedly marks a turning point in current international relations. The international disputes around this war is not only an embodiment of differentbeliefs and positions on the issue of war and peace, but more importantly a demonstration of the deep skepticism and worry throughout the international community on the possible outcome of the war, as well as the future development of American diplomatic and military policies. All these will exert a profound and extensive influence on the trend of development of international relations in the future.     

Features of World Military Security Situation

The current global military security situation is characterized by rising uncertainties and interlocked traditional/nontraditional security threats with militaries deploying in advance for the unpredictable future in a bid to build a favorable environment through a functional transformation of their respective armed forces.     

Looking at the 2015 South Asia Regional Hot-spots

The regional hotspots of South Asia in 2015 may be looked at from two angles.In the first place,the reconstruction process in Afghanistan has run into serious difficulties,with several major transitions"uncompleted,"casting ambiguity on the future of the Kabul regime.In 2014,Afghanistan,together with the international community,tried hard to advance its political,economic and security reconstructions.Although some achievements have been made,the three transitions have not been completed,leaving"unfinished projects"for 2015.First,in security,despite the fact that the Afghanistan War,led by the U.S.and NATO,was over,the chaos that has ensued from this war is far     

Afghanistan Reconstruction

The Karzai regime has made some progress over the past four years and a half in the post-war reconstruction.However, Taliban's destruction and drug economy are still having serious impacts on the security and stability of Afghanistan.Hence the settlement of the two problems has become a crux of affecting the country' s future.Moreover, the Karzai regime is yet to handle a series of hot potatoes in the fields of central government' s authority, military and police building-up and foreign relations as well.     

China-Japan Security Relations and China's Countermeasures

Security relations are crucial in China-Japan relations.Since the "nationalization" of the Diaoyu Islands by Japan in 2012,mutual trust between China and Japan has been declining,and bilateral security relations have reached a low point.China-Japan security relations are typified by ongoing dispute over the Diaoyu Islands,lack of mutual trust exacerbated by various actions by Japan,and the delay of China-Japan security dialogues.The evolution of China-Japan security relations derived from the Diaoyu Islands dispute is clearly beyond the scope of the dispute itself,with deep-rooted internal and external factors.In the near future,China-Japan security relations will face more challenges than opportunities.China should take measures,including enhancing mutual trust in politics and security between the two countries,to impose necessary pressure on Japan to change course,to win over neighboring countries so as to avoid pretext for Japan's intervention in regional issues,and to strengthen interpersonal communication and understanding between people of the two countries in order to stabilize security relations.     

The Difficulties of Common Security: On the Need for Value Consensus as a Basis for International Security

The essence of international security is common security, which relies heavily on basic consensus on security concepts and strategies among nations. However, since the beginning of the 20 th century, such a consensus or value basis has become very “thin” as a result of the following four factors: the inception of the global international system along with its cultural diversity; the great changes in political, economic and military arenas; the rise of nationalism and popular politics; and the emergence of superpowers and their antagonistic ideologies. Within strategic culture, there is juxtaposition between confrontational culture and cooperative culture. In security concepts, people have different preferences for national, international or global security. In terms of security strategies, there exist several competing models such as hegemonic stability, balance of power and institutional cooperation. The primary aims of international security remain: avoiding major wars, maintaining the stability of the international system and safeguarding the integrity of the nations. There are two new challenges: promoting global economic justice to avoid any domestic or international conflicts caused by an imbalanced international economic order; and meeting the challenges of various non-conventional security issues affecting human life on a global scale. In an era of security interdependence, the international community must make joint efforts to rebuild the consensus on security in light of the fundamental values of common security and cooperative security, and to practice a truly “international” security strategy so as to break away from the security dilemmas inflicted by each nation’s reliance on its own self-help and competing “national” security strategy.     

Amid Turmoil,the Middle East Is Reshaping

Turmoil in Iraq reached a new level when ISIL seized Mosul after the Iraq security force collapsed on June 10.Although ISIL,the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant,took over Fallujah in early 2014,this latest development has deeper repercussions.On June 29,ISIL declared a large territory between Iraq and Syria a new state.The leader,a Baghdadi who is wanted by the U.S.,was appointed as caliph.Together with the situation in Syria,the whole region is in tumult and remapping of borders is threatened.The Iraq government is fighting back with limited gains while the international community reacts with only noisy discussions.     

The Pacific Ocean Is Wide Enough For All Thoughts on Building a TPSCA Research Group,CICIR

Foreword
Our planet is wimessing the onset of a new stage in globalization, multipolarity and IT application. As a result of this, a fresh reshuffle is underway, coupled with the shifting sands of geo-politics and geo-economics. This has led to major challenges in the established international system and world order.1 The same is also true for the regional picture. Indeed, the turmoil in Ukraine, the unrelenting crisis in the Middle East, and the vortex in the Asia-Pacific, have led to unusual activity in the three blocks of Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific. Under the disguise of an apparent absence of interconnectivity, in-depth interactions are actually at work between them on the question of the future peace and stability of the international community as a whole.     

Shared Security: Chinese Perspectives on Non-Traditional Security

As mankind faces a growing number of “common threats,” “common crisis awareness” has emerged within the international community. People have begun to realize the very nature of non-traditional threats and their impact on the global village, and to demand responses to those threats in the form of “shared security.” Based on traditional security theories and contributions in the fi eld of peace studies, a constructivist “transitional form” of Western theories has taken shape. Various “independent forms” of non-traditional security theories have subsequently been created, and they all share the common value orientation of “constructed security.” The key to achieving “shared security” lies in how to deal with “heterogeneous” phenomena in the international community. China’s security ideals and diplomatic style are unique when compared with those of the Western world. Chinese concepts such as “Bao He Tai He”(great harmony is preserved in union), “Wan Guo Xian Ning”(the myriad states all enjoy repose), “He Er Bu Tong”(harmony but not sameness), and “Tian Xia Da Tong” (unity of the entire world) all embody rich intellectual resources and the core values for “shared security.” Recently, Chinese scholars have contributed to the growing discourse on “shared security” by proposing such theoretical frameworks as the “New Tian-Xia Doctrine,” “the Common Security of Human Beings,” “the Common Security of Multiactors,” and “the Deepening of Global Governance.” Finally, the author proposes a reexamination of China’s diplomatic practices and argues that “shared security” is not only theoretically valid for non-traditional security but also very feasible in practice.     

Peace at a Price: Strategic Studies of Current International Security and War Issues

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the World War II and the victory of the Anti-Fascist War. The WWII is an unprecedented disaster for humanity and, however, it can never be guaranteed that world wars will not break out again in the future. Just as wars can be classified as cold wars and hot wars, peace can also be defined as cold peace and real peace. Cold Peace, as an unstable state in the international relations, may bring misleading perception of peace, where peace is taken for granted, and potential crises may lead to international conflicts/ wars. This is clearly reflected in concerns of western scholars as exemplified by what is called Kissinger’s Worry and Haass’s Question. This paper approaches the question from a strategic and historical perspective and draws the following three conclusions: 1) historically, it takes a long time for people to realize the negative impacts of wars; 2) currently, we are in a dangerous stage of cold peace in terms of international security; 3) the Sino-US and Sino-Japanese relations will be crucial to the major power relations that affect China’s the national security in the future. China should find ways to deal with the two major relations and play its role in maintaining the world peace.     

An Analysis of U.S.Involvement in the South China Sea Dispute

The U.S. is the largest country outside of the region to involve itself in the South China Sea dispute. U.S. policy on this issue is guided by the principle of containing China＇s rise and this will continue to be the case in the near future. Meanwhile, the U.S. has proposed a new multi-lateral security mechanism, incorporating itself, in the South China Sea. This article will put forward some reflections and suggestions on the above issues.     

The Essence of Non-Traditional Security Issues and Their Solutions

Non-traditional security issues have arisen since the 1960s, especially after the end of the Cold War, and are becoming a major issue in world security and politics. This reflects tremendous changes in the world situation. With diverse causes and plural referent objects, non-traditional security issues cover nearly all the problems in the world today and make development difficult to sustain. This raises the question of whether human society and the earth can survive. Power politics one-sidedly stresses the role of power, endangering the harmonious development of nations and the whole of human society. It is not at all conducive to the solution of non-traditional security issues. The solution of non-traditional security issues demands cooperation from all actors in the international community. Multiple means are needed to solve these issues. Equal dialogue between all the actors, which can easily be attained, will play an effective role, as long as all actors respect each other＇s differences.     

My Opinion on the Situation of China''''s Energy Safety

Due to the fact that energy safety concerns not only China's economic safety but also influence the so-cial development and national security,it is there-fore both an economic issue and a political issue,being the core of the overall national security, as well as political, economic and military security.This is because a country cannot survive and de-velop without energy resources.The key to energy safety is a steady supply of energy.The safe trans-port of energy in particular is an important…     

U.S. Strategic Predicament in Iraq

The Iraq war is the biggest experimental site of Bushism and the success or failure of the war there has a direct bearing on the spread of Bushism as a strategic model. Hence it is necessary to make a systematic assessment of America's situation in Iraq. The current situation shows that the United has got into an unprecedented strategic haziness. In the security field, U.S. forces have dispatched large number of troops to carry out suppression and won frequent victories,but they are suffering stronger resistances. In the realm of political reconstruction, the democratic process in Iraq is now under in accordance with the prescribed order, but religious contradictions are on the rise, and political structures become more fragile. Over economic reconstruction, the United States has kept increasing input and at the same time appealed to the international community for more assistance. Even though Iraq is faced with difficulties in the reconstruction. Therefore, there is a widening disagreement in America over "whether the U.S. is winning or losing the war in Iraq. "① Based on the major views of experts and scholars from both China and overseas,the author thinks that the following three criteria are important for judging whether the United States has succeeded or failed in pursuing its strategy in Iraq: the feasibility of strategic objectives, balance of objectives and means and adaptability of strategic means. Judged by the above-mentioned criteria, the United States is now landing in a strategic predicament in Iraq.     

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.     

Bolster Confidence and Cooperation Seek Common Security

Security is a basic need and a prerequisite for the existence and development of the human society. For this reason, countries of the world have one and all prioritized peace and security issues and hope to have a favorable international security environment. For almost half a century after World War II, the world remained in a state of tensions and confrontation between the West and the East in the Cold War. The traditional concept of security at that time was characterized by antagonism; …     

Security, Development and International Co-Prosperity (Part I)

Under the guidance of the overall concept of national security, China is in need of a national security strategy centered on “effective security,” which is targeted at enhanced, relative, open, sustainable, multi-dimensional, developmental, common, coordinated, and moderate security. The strategic guiding principles are set forth for the sustainable development and effectiveness of China’s national security, that is, 1) combination of security with joint development; 2) integration of reactive and proactive approaches; 3) elimination of both direct and root causes; 4) enhancement of cooperation and defensive capacities; and 5) balance of domestic and international security. It is also desirable that China should reduce its reactive mindset, reinforce a proactive mindset and enhance its capacity in shaping and creating a favorable security environment. Effective security requires a centralized, efficient, professional and law-binding national security mechanism. The external layout should abide by the principle of “multi-dimensional and orderly implementation, balance of domestic and international security, and compatibility with capability.” This article expounds on the status quo of China’s national security strategy in the ten functional areas of security, political, military, economy, social, public, internet, religious, energy, environment and overseas security. After identifying the materialization of effective security and assessing the existing problems, it makes some suggestions about corresponding policies and strategic initiatives. China should also learn from the lessons of the United States and the Soviet Union whose misguided and excessive security concerns in the post-9/11 era and the late phase of the Cold War era respectively resulted in depletion of national strength, scattered resources, incompatible capacities and eventually the unsustainability of national security. Therefore, China should attach great importance to the co-prosperity and complementarity of security and development, take a path of sustainable development of national security with Chinese characteristics, and make its due contributions to world peace and development of the entire human race.     

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.     

People-to-People Exchange and Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind

In major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics for the new era,people-to-people exchange,political and security cooperation,and economic cooperation are the three pillars of China’s foreign policy.With a people-centered approach as its core,people-to-people exchange focuses on equality and mutual learning and aims at achieving win-win cooperation.Promoting people-to-people exchange is vital to cement the social foundation and public support for China’s foreign relations and promote a higher level of opening-up.1 As pointed out in the 19th CPC National Congress report,in handling relations among civilizations,estrangement should be replaced with exchange,clashes with mutual learning,and superiority with coexistence.Deepening people-to-people exchange is of major theoretical and practical importance to building a community with a shared future for mankind.     

U.S. and East Asian Integration

the U.S. is directly impacting on the future of the East Asian community. Therefore, finding ways to get along with the U.S. is crucial to the speed, direction, configuration and character of the East Asian community. In this paper, the author has analyzed the interests of the United States in East Asia and its stands towards the East Asian integration. The author concludes that it is to the interest of the United States to make more efforts to further join in the East Asian integration. And East Asia should accept and welcome the American participation.