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As China grows rapidly from a regional power to a global power, the nation's diplomacy should become more dynamic than its traditional norm. A global strategy, however, should be based on capability rather than intention; any strategic layout featuring ambitions that lie beyond one's capability could lead to failure.
China holds significant influence over Asia. With East Asian cooperation and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as main pillars, China has created a geopolitical strategy with its own unique character that can be further cultivated in the future. Moreover, the 18th CPC National Congress set a clear objective to build China into a maritime power and resolutely safeguard its maritime rights and interests. A balance is needed, however, so that the issue should not clash with the country's overall interests.
China will remain a developing country for the long term, but its convergence of interests with developed countries is growing continuously. Given its special influence in the Group of 20 and the BRICS club of emerging economies, China could skillfully champion developing countries' shared interests on issues such as sustainable development, climate change and international financial system reform, acting as a coordinator between developing countries and the developed world. Its unique position as a bridge between the East and the West as well as between the South and the North gives China the opportunity to show its potential as a global power.
China stays committed to a policy of nonalignment, but that does not mean it will shun friendships with other countries. China's nonalignment policy in the new era signals its intention to promote friendly and cooperative relations with other countries in keeping with the principles of respecting each other, refraining from interference with one another's internal affairs, building consensus, treating each other as equals and seeking mutually beneficial results. It also calls for advocating universal values such as peace, democracy and people's well-being. In China's view, countries should assist each other on issues where they see eye to eye and manage disputes squarely as true friends.
The United States is both a major strategic rival and an important development partner of China. During long-term bilateral exchanges, the two countries' interests have become highly intertwined, shaping a complicated relationship marked by both cooperation and competition. A popular saying is that Sino-U.S. relations cannot be better or worse. This view is appropriate so long as China cannot pose a substantial challenge to the United States' global dominance. However, the situation could change in the event of a shift in the balance of power; certainly, Washington already regards Beijing as its major rival.
Political leaders and academics in the two countries have reached consensus on establishing a new type of future-oriented partnership between the major powers. In the last few years, they have laid a workable foundation for this new type of relationship by promoting a China-U.S. cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and benefit. This foundation should be further strengthened and expanded.
Specific measures may include maintaining substantial high-level contact; discussing topics such as Asia-Pacific interest coordination, maritime strategic intentions, fair market access and regional hotspots; making full use of the existing political and military channels to control disputes and manage crises; pragmatically expanding bilateral cooperation across the board; enhancing coordination on reforming and improving the current international system; and handling trade frictions through non-politicized equal consultations.
The next five to 10 years are crucial for both China and the United States to readjust their industrial structures and transform their development modes. It will also be a critical period for the two countries to modify their global strategies based on the changing international pattern and their respective strengths and positions. The two sides should take concrete actions to demonstrate the feasibility of a new type of relations between major powers.
In the last decade, China has attached great importance to the fundamental role its people play in extending diplomacy, noting Chinese citizens' increasing involvement in international exchanges and their growing demands to stay informed about and participate in diplomatic affairs. With the rapid development of China and the growing civic awareness of Chinese people, people-oriented diplomacy will be further strengthened in the years to come.
People-oriented diplomacy in the new era should ensure the legitimate rights of Chinese people at home and abroad are effectively safeguarded. Also, the government should launch direct dialogue with the public to solicit people's opinions on foreign affairs. The authorities should guide the public to comprehensively understand China's national development objectives, national interests and viable options to protect these interests. Moreover, the government should actively promote public, people-to-people and cultural diplomacy, harnessing people power to spread the positive influence of China's policies.
The author is an op-ed contributor to Beijing Review
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