Abstract
China’s foreign policy is acquiring a growing multilateral dimension. This development is in line with a booming discourse of international responsibility in China. This chapter intends to clarify the general understanding in China about its international responsibilities, with regard to its foreign policy. It will then explore how China’s growing responsibility diplomacy injected new dynamics in China’s multilateral diplomacy, transforming it from pragmatic multilateralism towards a strategic one. China has not only actively engaged in the existing multilateral institutions, but also co-initiated a number of new multilateral institutions, mostly in Asia. At the same time, challenges also arise in its management of this new multilateral responsibility diplomacy, particularly in its efforts to seek a proper balance between the responsibility diplomacy and traditional diplomatic principles, its national interests, capacity and external expectations.
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Notes
- 1.
Chinese president Hu Jintao and premier Wen Jiabao also proclaimed that China is a responsible state; see http://www.china-embassy.org/chn/zmgx/t211962.htm and http://news.xinhuanet.com/misc/2006-03/14/content_4303953.htm
- 2.
In Deng’s view, China’s economic development itself, if achieved, will be the “true contribution to the human kind”; see Deng (1993).
- 3.
Article 24 of the Charter of United Nations.
- 4.
This ratio dropped to 0.6% in 1980 and 1981. See Yang (2009).
- 5.
Figures from the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China, http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/chn/gxh/zlb/tyfg/t4985.htm
- 6.
Worldwide IGOs include three out of four categories of Intergovernmental Organizations, Federations of International Organizations, Universal Membership Organizations, Intercontinental Membership Organizations, Regionally defined Membership Organizations. See Li and Wang (2007).
- 7.
Johnston’s assumption here is that more resource-constrained states with fewer linkages to the global economy should be less involved in international institutions as well. High levels of development are associated with high levels of interdependence, hence with a high demand for institutions that can regulate these interactions. See Johnston (2003).
- 8.
Ibid.
- 9.
China’s Information Office of the State Council, China’s National Defense in 2008. The full text of this white paper on national defense could be accessed at http://www.china.org.cn/government/whitepaper/node_7060059.htm.
- 10.
Website of Ministry of Commerce, China.
- 11.
The BLAIR DOCTRINE, April 22, 1999 http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/international/jan-june99/blair_doctrine4-23.html
- 12.
United Nations, “2005 World Summit Outcomes – Resolution adopted the General Assembly,” October 24, 2005, A/RES/60/1. p. 30.
- 13.
“Position Paper of the People’s Republic of China on the United Nations Reforms,” 2005/06/07.
- 14.
“Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun Attends the UN Security Council Meeting on Libya,” June16, 2011. http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/zxxx/t831724.htm
- 15.
People’s Daily, October 17, 2000.
- 16.
Figures from official website of the Ministry of Defense, China, http://eng.mod.gov.cn/Peacekeeping/introduction.htm
- 17.
In the end, China decided to send engineering and medical team again under UN request. See online talk by the then Assistant Chief of General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army, General Zhang Xinsheng, at Xinhuanet on September 28, 2006. http://military.people.com.cn/GB/1076/52983/4870385.html
- 18.
See the “Positions Paper of the People’ Republic of China on the United Nations Reforms”, June 7, 2005. http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/ceun/eng/zt/gaige/t199101.htm
- 19.
Robert B. Zoellick, “Whither China: From Membership to Responsibility?,” Remarks at the National Committee on U.S.: China Relations, September 21, 2005. Full text of this speech could be accessed at http://www.cfr.org/china/whither-china-membership-responsibility/p8916
- 20.
Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament, “EU – China: Closer partners, growing responsibilities,” {COM (2006) 632 final}. Brussels, 24 October 2006.
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Zhimin, C. (2012). International Responsibility, Multilateralism, and China’s Foreign Policy. In: Telò, M. (eds) State, Globalization and Multilateralism. United Nations University Series on Regionalism, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2843-1_5
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