Chinas Changing Approach to International Intervention

In the Post-Cold War Era

Thesis (M.A.) , 2009 , 116 Pages , Grade: 2,0

Orientalism / Sinology - Chinese / China

This work tries to answer these questions by analyzing China’s changing policy on the principle of national sovereignty and international military intervention, especially since the end of
the Cold War era. The result is of course a much more complex picture than the one painted by the Western media: Beijing’s interpretation of national sovereignty is by no means static,
despite all its conservative rhetoric. In addition, China has increasingly acquiesced to some forms of international military intervention, while continuing to oppose it in certain cases.
Although there are some visible red lines, there seems to be no ideologically-driven Chinese strategy on international intervention. Beijing rather seems to follow a pragmatic approach of muddling through (mosuo, 摸索), testing a number of different approaches in order to find the best possible way to promote its interests.

This thesis is structured as follows: Chapter 2 provides an analysis of the general development of Chinese foreign policy since the end of the Cold War era. This chapter focuses especially on the issues and motivations that have dominated Chinese foreign policy in the past twenty years. It starts with a brief analysis of the Chinese foreign policy decision-making process and of the Chinese foreign policy think tank landscape. Chapter 3 looks into China’s changing position on the principle of national sovereignty. The chapter also discusses the historical development of the principle of national sovereignty, and the factors constraining and conducing change in the Chinese position towards it. Chapter 4 examines Beijing’s changing approach to international intervention. To illustrate this approach, two concepts of international military intervention will be examined: UN Peacekeeping Operations and a new concept, the Responsibility to Protect. The analysis of China’s position on these concepts will employ a mix of discourse analysis (comprising official statements and unofficial foreign policy elite views) and policy analysis. Thus following a Chinese saying, ‘listen to their words, and watch their actions’ (ting qi yan, guan qi xing, 聽其言, 觀其行). Finally, a summarization of the
findings and the corresponding conclusions can be found in chapter 5. The chapter ends with some policy recommendations for Western foreign policy decision-makers.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Chinese foreign policy after the Cold War
  • Actors and foreign policy decision-making processes
    • Party and government actors
    • Think Tanks and foreign policy elite
  • Development of Chinese foreign policy after the Cold War
  • Competing goals and motivations
    • Regime survival, economic development, nationalism
    • Image policy: China's 'Peaceful Rise'
  • Conclusion: Muddling through
• China's approach to sovereign change
  • The 'New Sovereignty' debate
  • China's changing position
  • Factors constraining change
    • Traditional Chinese conceptions of sovereignty
    • Official PRC historiography and nationalism
    • Example: The Taiwan conflict
  • Factors conducive to change
    • Growing global economic and political interests
    • China's international socialization
    • Example: Flexibility in border disputes
  • Conclusion: Mixed signals
• China's changing position on international intervention
  • UN Peacekeeping Operations
    • Definition and controversies
    • Historical development
    • China's changing policy on UN PKO
    • Foreign policy elite analysis
    • Conclusion
  • The Responsibility to Protect (R2P)
    • From Humanitarian Intervention to R2P
    • China's policy on R2P
    • Foreign policy elite analysis
    • Conclusion
  • Conclusion: Limited progress

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This work analyzes China's evolving approach to the principle of national sovereignty and international military intervention, particularly in the post-Cold War era. It aims to understand the factors driving China's policy decisions and the overall development of Chinese foreign policy.

• China's evolving understanding of sovereignty and its implications for international relations.
• The role of domestic factors, such as regime survival, economic development, and nationalism, in shaping China's foreign policy.
• The impact of globalization and international socialization on China's foreign policy.
• China's changing position on international intervention, including its stance on UN peacekeeping operations and the Responsibility to Protect (R2P).
• The interplay between China's domestic and international priorities in shaping its foreign policy towards international intervention.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chinese foreign policy after the Cold War: This chapter examines the actors and decision-making processes within Chinese foreign policy, as well as the development of Chinese foreign policy in the post-Cold War era. It explores the competing goals and motivations behind China's foreign policy, including regime survival, economic development, nationalism, and the image policy of 'Peaceful Rise'.
• China's approach to sovereign change: This chapter delves into the 'New Sovereignty' debate and examines China's changing position on sovereignty. It analyzes the factors constraining change, such as traditional Chinese conceptions of sovereignty, official PRC historiography, and nationalism, as well as the factors conducive to change, including growing global economic and political interests, China's international socialization, and its flexibility in border disputes.
• China's changing position on international intervention: This chapter focuses on China's evolving stance towards international intervention, specifically exploring its policy on UN Peacekeeping Operations and the Responsibility to Protect (R2P). It examines the historical development of these concepts, China's changing policy positions, and the perspectives of foreign policy elites.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

China's foreign policy, national sovereignty, international intervention, UN peacekeeping operations, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), Peaceful Rise, globalization, international socialization, regime survival, economic development, nationalism.

• College: University of Heidelberg (Institut für Sinologie)
• Grade: 2,0
• Author: Oliver Bräuner (Author)
• Publication Year: 2009
• Pages: 116
• Catalog Number: V144281
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640548002
• ISBN (Book): 9783640550586
• Language: English
• Tags: China, Internationale Beziehungen, Nationale Souveränität, Souveränität, Intervention, Peacekeeping, Peace Enforcement, Responsibility to Protect, R2P, Chinesische Außenpolitik, Vereinte Nationen