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Convincing the World of China’s Tradition to Pursue Universal Harmony

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Abstract

As China’s comprehensive national power grows, its efforts to reduce the “China threat” perception have become more challenging. In line with the Chinese leadership’s current theme of peace and harmony in China’s foreign policy line, Chinese scholars have been highlighting the same theme in their research on China’s traditional strategic culture. Their research criticizes Western cosmopolitanism and praises the peaceful nature of China’s traditional “tianxia” concept. The exploitation of traditional strategic culture to provide re-assurance to the international community has now been raised to the official level, as reflected by the White Paper on “China’s Peaceful Development” released by the State Council’s Information Office on September 6, 2011. This probably means that it will be a major element of China’s public diplomacy for the foreseeable future. These efforts, however, may not have a significant impact because of rising nationalism in the region and the moderate escalation of existing territorial disputes involving China and its neighbors.

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Notes

  1. See, for example, Li [1].

  2. Johnston [2] and Cheng [3].

  3. See, for example, Li [7], Niu [8], Gong [9] and Wang [10]. Li Jijun is a retired lieutenant-general who once served as the director of the office of the Party Central Military Commission and deputy president of the Academy of Military Sciences.

  4. Guo Shuyong, “Chapter 10: Zhongguo de Zhanlue Wenhua Chuantong (China’s Strategic Cultural Traditional)”, in Li Shaojun(ed), op. cit, p. 519.

  5. See Carlson [16].

  6. Guo Shuyong, op. cit., pp.525–532. See also Fairbank [19].

  7. Guo Shuyong, op.cit. pp. 555–558.

  8. Guo Shuyong, op. cit, pp. 559–560; and Zhao [27].

  9. Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo Duiwai Guanxi Wenjianji (A Compendium of Documents on the Foreign Relations of the People’s Republic of China), Vol. I, Beijing: Shijie Zhishi Chubandshe, 1957, pp. 1–2.

  10. Ibid., pp. 76–77.

  11. Meng Xiangqing and Li Dongyan, “Xin Zhongguo Duiwai Zhanlue de Yanbian Licheng (The Evolutionary Process of New China’s Foreign Relations Strategy)” in Li Shaojun (ed.), op.cit., pp. 573–576.

  12. Ibid., pp.575–576.

  13. For the text of the report, see Beijing Review [31].

  14. The Four Modernizations were modernization of agriculture, industry, national defense, and science and technology.

  15. For the text of the speech, see Beijing Review [35].

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  17. “Zhao on Co-operation with African Countries”, Beijing Review [39].

  18. See Mu Youlin, “Premier Zhao’s S. America Trip”, ibid., Vol. 28, No. 43, October 28, 1985, p. 4.

  19. Department of Aid to Foreign Countries, Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, “Basic Situation of China’s Foreign Aid” [Zhongguo Duiwai Yuanzhu Jiben Qingkuang], January 30, 2008, yws.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/m/200801/20080105361773.html.

  20. For a more optimistic view, see Friedman [44].

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  22. Kindleberger [52, 53].

  23. For a summary of the White Paper and commentaries on it, see Ming Pao [55].

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  1. Contemporary China Research Project, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

    Joseph Y. S. Cheng

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Cheng, J.Y.S. Convincing the World of China’s Tradition to Pursue Universal Harmony. J OF CHIN POLIT SCI 17, 165–185 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11366-012-9191-5

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