Is China A Responsible Stakeholder in the early st 21 Century? RORY MCCALLUM, USMAN VERGARA AND MARTIN RAWSON Main Points of Classic Realism & Hans Morgenthau Power- the ability to ‘get your own way’ State- Centric Actors behave in a Rational way International system characterised by Anarchy Need for Security Condition of War Human selfishness and Egoism Self- Interest not idealism or morality as a motivation China and Japan Long history of War and Conflict Leadership Rivals De-stabilises regional Balance of Power Realists- Ongoing Power Struggle Economic Self-Interest leads to Stable Relations China and South Korea South Korea, Japan - Military Bases for United States troops Concerned about US policy of Containment Concerned about Encirclement by United States allies. De-Escalate tensions with North Korea Maintains cordial relations China and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Benefits from trade with ASEAN Both strongly support state sovereignty and oppose external interference Dispute over South China Sea Uses military strength to bully smaller ASEAN states in furthering its territorial claims Refuses mediation and builds military bases- Not being a responsible stakeholder China and the European Union China’s current largest trading partner is the EU, however there have been some run-ins in the lead up to them having the relationship they have now. China was always on the back foot with regards to the EU and the strong emphasis they have on human rights. Very important for china to restore relations following 1989 Tiananmen square shootings This created the arms embargo, important context for China seeking responsibility in the early 21st Century. Arms Embargo EU just as “irresponsible” as China in 2005 the Council stated that EU member states had bought military equipment worth more than €340 million (202 total deals) to China. China still fighting to gain MES (Market Economy Status) despite EU having dealt with them in secret. The Commission has been reluctant to extend MES to China particularly because of 'state interference' - but that refers to discrimination against private or foreign-owned companies vis-à-vis state enterprises; interference in the allocation of raw materials; export or other sales restrictions; and price fixing EU and US can be seen as “Scared” of the competitiveness of Chinese enterprises. Bra Wars Press dubbed textile feud in 2005 between China and EU as “bra wars” This was as Chinese Textile and clothing exports grew from 263% to 895% In the end, Compromise: 50% released for free, other half counted against Chinese exports for 2006. Led to a lot of unemployment in clothing industries, less skill –intensive and more labour-intensive jobs were lost working class mostly affected. Dumping Dumping takes place when a product is exported at a price lower than its normal value, which is usually the price at which the like product is sold in the ordinary course of trade in the exporting country. When china joined WTO in 2001, it agreed to special dispensation with regards to dumping. China has long been seen to be dumping steel by the EU U.S-China Relationship Mixed relationship Before 1990s, Beijing a weak power unable to compete with Washington Still developing internally so aims were to cultivate good relations with the outside world Now China second biggest power behind USA Chinese leaders have tried to avoid confrontation and enhance cooperation with the USA America heavily engaged economically, diplomatically and culturally USA still tries to contain China’s regional and global ambitions U.S-China Positive Relations Abandoned superpower hegemony and proposed to build “constructive strategic partnership” US Cooperation with China on many strategically important issues Aim to balance against one another Realist perspective: In order to continue its power rise it relies on a cooperative relationship with the USA Short term suggest U.S power unlikely to decline but China is looking to gain power in the long-term U.S-China Negative Relations U.S bombing of Chinese embassy in Belgrade, 1999 Chinese capture of U.S spy plane, 2001 Forge links with anti-American governments such as Iran, Iraq and North Korea USA looking to fraught Chinese development Chinese prevention of US policy towards Taiwan China sets policies to prevent U.S actions from harming vital national interests Although they have a strategic partnership, China looking to maintain sovereignty in who they trade with and so defending interests and survival. Conclusions From Morgenthau’s perspective, China is behaving as a responsible stakeholder, by entirely understandably pursuing its own national interest. Despite the existence of many tensions with countries around the world, it keeps these in check to maintain peace and stability, which it has prioritised as a means of facilitating economic growth and protecting the position of the Chinese Communist Party. Bibliography 1 Brown, Kerry, (2015) Contemporary China (2nd ed.), Palgrave MacMillan, London Donnelly, Jack (2013), Realism in Burchill and Linklater (eds.) Theories of International Relations, Red Globe Press, London Jacobs. Andreas (2014) Realism in Schieder and Spindler (eds.), Theories of International Relations, Routledge, Abingdon Morgenthau, Hans J, (1985), Politics Among Nations (6th ed.), McGraw-Hill, New York Global Fire Power, 2020 Military Strength Ranking accessed on 27/03/20 https://www.globalfirepower.com/countries-listing.asp Bibliography 2 Nicola Casarini 2006, The evolution of the EU-China relationship: from constructive engagement to strategic partnership. European Union Institute for Security Studies. 31 May-Britt Stumbaum 2009, The European Union and China. Decision-Making in EU Foreign and Security Policy towards the People’s Republic of China. Nomos. 142-144. Tu Xingquan 2008, as quoted in the China Daily, 12 December 2012. “China's market economy status key to world economy”, Available online: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2012-12/12/ content_16010548.htm (accessed 26 February 2014). Tom Jenkins 2008, European Trade Unions and EU-China policy, EU-China Civil Society Forum, 1/2008 - 20 August 2008. Brink, Gustav. "Anti-dumping and China: Three Major Chinese Victories in Dispute Resolution." The Comparative and International Law Journal of Southern Africa 47, no. 1 (2014): 1-37
