“Discrepancies, political discourses, and implications of China’s multidimensional diplomacy”, in Simon Shen and Jean-Marc Blanchard (editors), Multidimensional Diplomacy of Contemporary China, Rowman & Littlefield’s Lexington Books, May 2010
Abstract:
Discrepant Chinese foreign policies can be found in the following dimensions: China’s non-intervention policy; China’s attitudes towards various territorial negotiations; the Chinese leaders’ responses on regional and international crisis; and the blueprint of Chinese military development. The interpretations of the contradiction between Chinese principles and practices are twofold. First, China has to strike a balance between its moralistic principles and national interests. This is to say, some pragmatic national interests such as regime security, regional or border stability, economic and technological interdependence as well as the access of blue water capability are more important than the moralistic principles. Second, China must present its image as a responsible and peaceful rising power in order to assure its neighbouring countries and other great powers that China will not be a threat to them in the future. But the contrasting outcome of the Chinese practice may not be able to convince others. Thus, the rationale behind the Chinese foreign policy seems to be more complicated than many analysts expected. And definitely the discrepant Chinese foreign policies have significant implications about our understanding of China’s newly emerged multidimensional diplomacy.
