China is one of the oldest states in the world. The preservation of their territories is the result of centuries-old traditions. China, whose foreign policy has unique features, is consistently upholding its interests and at the same time skillfully building relations with neighboring states. Today, this country is confidently aspiring to world leadership, and this has become possible also due to the “new” foreign policy. The three largest states on the planet - China, Russia, the USA - are currently the most important geopolitical force, and the position of the Celestial Empire in this triad looks very convincing.
History of China's International Relations
For three millennia, China, the border of which today includes historical territories, has existed as a major and important power in the region. This vast experience in establishing relationships with a wide variety of neighbors and the consistent upholding of their own interests is also creatively applied in the modern foreign policy of the country.
The overall philosophy of the nation, which is based largely on Confucianism, left its mark on China's international relations. According to Chinese views, the true lord does not consider anything external, therefore international relations have always been considered as part of the state’s internal policy. Another feature of the ideas about statehood in China is that, according to their views, the Celestial Empire has no end, it covers the whole world. Therefore, China thinks of itself as a kind of global empire, the "Middle State." China's foreign and domestic policy is built on the main point - China-centrism. This easily explains the rather active expansion of the Chinese emperors in different periods of the country's history. At the same time, the Chinese rulers have always believed that influence is much more significant than power, so China has established special relations with its neighbors. Its penetration into other countries is connected with economy and culture.
Until the mid-19th century, the country existed within the imperial ideology of Greater China, and only the European invasion forced the Celestial Empire to change its principles of relations with neighbors and other states. The People's Republic of China was proclaimed in 1949, and this leads to significant changes in foreign policy. Although socialist China declared partnership with all countries, the division of the world into two camps gradually took place, and the country existed in its socialist wing, together with the USSR. In the 70s, the PRC government changed this distribution of forces and declared that China was between superpowers and third world countries, and that the Celestial Empire would never want to become a superpower. But by the 80s, the concept of “three worlds” began to fail - a “coordinate theory” of foreign policy appears. Strengthening the United States and its attempt to create a unipolar world has led China to announce a new international concept and its new strategic course.
"New" foreign policy
In 1982, the country's government proclaims a "new China", which exists on the principles of peaceful coexistence with all states of the world. The country's leadership skillfully establishes international relations within the framework of its doctrine and at the same time respects its interests, both economic and political. At the end of the 20th century, there has been an increase in US political ambitions, which feel that they are the only superpower that can dictate its own world order. This does not suit China, and, in the spirit of a national character and diplomatic traditions, the country's leadership does not make any statements and changes its line of conduct. China's successful economic and domestic policies put the state in the rank of the most successfully developing at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. At the same time, the country carefully avoids joining any of the parties of numerous geopolitical conflicts of the world and tries to protect exclusively its interests. But increased pressure from the United States sometimes forces the country's leadership to take various steps. In China, there is a separation of concepts such as state and strategic borders. The former are recognized as unshakable and indestructible, and the latter, in fact, have no limits. This is the country's sphere of interests, and it extends to almost all corners of the globe. This concept of strategic boundaries is the basis for modern Chinese foreign policy.
Geopolitics
At the beginning of the 21st century, the planet is covered by the era of geopolitics, that is, there is an active redistribution of spheres of influence between countries. Moreover, not only superpowers declare their interests, but also small states that do not want to become raw materials appendages to developed countries. This leads to conflicts, including armed ones, and alliances. Each state is looking for the most favorable development path and line of behavior. In this regard, the foreign policy of the People's Republic of China could not but change. Moreover, at the present stage, the Celestial Empire has gained considerable economic and military power, which allows it to claim greater weight in geopolitics. First of all, China began to oppose the maintenance of a unipolar model of the world, it advocates multipolarity, and therefore, willy-nilly, has to face a conflict of interests with the United States. However, China skillfully builds its own line of behavior, which, as usual, is focused on upholding its economic and internal interests. China does not directly state claims of dominance, but gradually pursues its “silent” expansion of the world.
Principles of Foreign Policy
China states that its main mission is to preserve peace throughout the world and all support for universal development. The country has always been a supporter of peaceful coexistence with neighbors, and this is the basic principle of the Celestial Empire in building international relations. In 1982, the country adopted the Charter, which fixed the basic principles of China's foreign policy. There are 5 of them:
- The principle of mutual respect for sovereignty and state borders;
- the principle of non-aggression;
- The principle of non-interference in the affairs of other states and the prevention of interference in the internal politics of one’s own country;
- The principle of equality in relations;
- The principle of peace with all the states of the planet.
Later, these basic postulates were deciphered and adjusted to take into account the changing world conditions, although their essence remained unchanged. The current foreign policy strategy suggests that China will contribute in every way to the development of a multipolar world and the stability of the international community.
The state proclaims the principle of democracy and respects cultural differences and the right of peoples to self-determination of their path. Celestial Empire also opposes all forms of terrorism and in every possible way contributes to the creation of a just economic and political world order. China seeks to establish friendly and mutually beneficial relations with its neighbors in the region, as well as with all countries of the planet.
These basic postulates are the basis of China’s policy, but in each individual region in which the country has geopolitical interests, they are implemented in a specific relationship building strategy.
China and the USA: Partnership and Confrontation
The relationship between China and the United States has a long and difficult history. These countries have long been in a latent conflict, which was associated with America’s opposition to the Chinese communist regime and with the support of the Kuomintang. Reducing tension begins only in the 70s of the 20th century, diplomatic relations between the United States and China were established in 1979. For a long time, the Chinese army was ready to defend the territorial interests of the country in the event of an attack by America, which considered China to be its adversary. In 2001, the US Secretary of State stated that she considers China not an adversary, but a competitor in economic relations, which meant a change in policy. America could not ignore the rapid growth of the Chinese economy and the buildup of its military power. In 2009, the United States even proposed to the Celestial leader to create a special political and economic format - G2, an alliance of two superpowers. But China refused. He often does not agree with the policy of the Americans and does not want to take part of the responsibility for it. The volume of trade between countries is constantly growing, China is actively investing in American assets, all this only strengthens the need for partnerships in politics. But the United States periodically tries to impose its scenarios of behavior on China, to which the leadership of the Middle Kingdom reacts with stiff resistance. Therefore, relations between these countries constantly balance between confrontation and partnership. China says it is ready to "make friends" with the United States, but in no case will it prevent their interference in its policy. In particular, the fate of the island of Taiwan is a constant stumbling block.
China and Japan: Complicated Neighborhood Relations
The relations between the two neighbors were often accompanied by serious disagreements and a strong influence on each other. Since the history of these states there are several serious wars (7th century, late 19th and mid 20th century), which had serious consequences. In 1937, Japan attacked China. She was given serious support from Germany and Italy. The Chinese army was significantly inferior to the Japanese, which allowed the Land of the Rising Sun to quickly capture the large northern territories of the Middle Kingdom. And today, the consequences of that war are an obstacle to the establishment of more friendly relations between China and Japan. But these two economic giants today are too closely linked by trade relations to allow themselves to conflict. Therefore, countries are moving towards a gradual rapprochement, although many contradictions remain unresolved. For example, China and Japan will not come to an agreement on several problem areas, including Taiwan, which does not allow countries to get very close. But in the 21st century, relations between these Asian economic giants became very warm.
China and Russia: friendship and cooperation
Two huge countries located on the same mainland, just can not help but try to build friendships. The history of the interaction of the two countries has more than 4 centuries. During this time, there were different periods, good and bad, but it was impossible to break the connection between the states, they were intertwined too closely. In 1927, official relations between Russia and China were interrupted for several years, but in the late 30s, relations began to recover. After World War II, the communist leader Mao Zedong came to power in China, and close cooperation between the USSR and the PRC begins. But with the coming to power in the USSR, N. Khrushchev, relations deteriorate, and only thanks to great diplomatic efforts can they be established. With perestroika, relations between Russia and China are becoming much warmer, although there are contentious issues between the countries. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, China became the most important strategic partner for Russia. At this time, trade ties are intensifying, technology exchanges are growing, and political agreements are being concluded. Although China, as usual, first of all follows its interests and steadily upholds them, and Russia sometimes has to make concessions to its large neighbor. But both countries understand the importance of their partnership, so today Russia and China are great friends, political and economic partners.
China and India: Strategic Partnership
These two largest Asian countries have more than 2 thousand years of relationship. The modern stage began in the late 40s of the 20th century, when India recognized the PRC and established diplomatic contacts with it. There are border disputes between states, which prevents a greater rapprochement of states. However, the economic Indian-Chinese relations are only improving and expanding, which entails the warming of political contacts. But China remains true to its strategy and is not inferior in its most important positions, carrying out quiet expansion, primarily in the markets of India.
China and South America
A major power like China has interests all over the world. Moreover, not only the nearest neighbors or peers at the level of the country, but also very distant regions fall into the state’s influence field. Thus, China, whose foreign policy is significantly different from the behavior in the international arena of other superpowers, has been actively seeking common ground with the countries of South America for many years. These efforts are successful. True to its policy, China concludes cooperation agreements with countries of this region and is actively establishing trade relations. Chinese business in South America is associated with the construction of roads, power plants, oil and gas production, and a partnership is developing in the field of space and the automotive industry.
China and Africa
The Chinese government is pursuing the same active policy in African countries. China makes serious investments in the development of the states of the "black" continent. Today, Chinese capital is present in the mining, manufacturing, military industries, in road construction and production infrastructure. China adheres to a de-ideologized policy, respecting its principles of respect for other cultures and partnerships. Experts note that Chinese investment in Africa today is so serious that it is changing the economic and political landscape of this region. The influence of Europe and the United States on African countries is gradually decreasing, and thereby the main goal of China is realized - the multipolarity of the world.
China and Asian countries
China, as an Asian country, pays a lot of attention to neighboring states. At the same time, the declared basic principles are being consistently implemented in foreign policy. Experts note that the Chinese government is extremely interested in a peaceful and partnership neighborhood with all Asian countries. Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan - this is the area of special attention of China. In this region, there are many problems that have aggravated with the collapse of the USSR, but China is trying to resolve the situation in its favor. The PRC managed to achieve serious success in establishing relations with Pakistan. The countries are jointly developing a nuclear program, which is very scary for the US and India. Today, China is in talks to jointly build an oil pipeline to provide China with this valuable resource.
China and North Korea
An important strategic partner of China is the closest neighbor - the DPRK. The leadership of the Celestial Empire supported North Korea in the war in the mid-20th century and has always expressed its readiness to provide assistance, including military assistance, if necessary. China, whose foreign policy is always aimed at protecting its interests, is seeking, in the person of Korea, a reliable partner in the Far Eastern region. Today, China is the largest trading partner of the DPRK; relations between countries are developing positively. For both states, partnerships in the region are very important, therefore, they have excellent prospects for cooperation.
