China’s role and assertiveness in Asia

Yuba Nath Lamsal

Although China’s official name changed with every dynasty that came to rule this country, the common traditional name of China is ‘Zhongguo’, which means a central state. Later foreigners especially the Westerners started calling China a ‘middle kingdom’. The name central state has got nothing with the period or dynasty but it is so called because of its power and role in the neighborhood and the world. The ancient Chinese people believed that China was the center of the world and that China was situated in the middle of the earth.  It, thus, implies that China remained in the central stage of the world politics and power throughout history. China has always been a power to reckon with in the international arena except in a brief period when this country fell under foreign occupation and internal conflict.

Now China has reemerged as an international power, which has been a matter of both joy and worry for the world. China’s growth and rise has been taken as a source of inspiration for many countries in the Third World, while the Western powers especially the United States of America and its allies have taken China’s prosperity as a threat to their global domination and monopoly. Despite their positional and perceptional differences, the United States and China have shared interests on many issues in the world and in the Asia and the Pacific region, in which they are willing to cooperate with one another. However, the threat perception and strategic rivalry and competition continue to persist between these two global powers which have their own repercussion and ramification on economy, security and strategic affairs in the world and more particularly in Asia and the Pacific region.

Being the only superpower, the United States has global presence. As an emerging super power China, too, is trying to have its presence and clout in the world. But their approaches and attitudes in dealing with the international and regional affairs are different. The United States resorts to both persuasive and coercive tactics in order to ensure its presence felt and defend its national interests in the world. In its bid to defend its interest and maintain its domination, Washington uses all tactics at its disposal including military intervention and economic sanction. Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and several other countries are the recent examples of Washington’s use of military forces to ensure its domination, while Iran and North Korea are the victims of US-imposed economic sanction. But China’s approach is totally different and refrains from using any kind of coercive measures. China neither wants its domination nor does it ever pursue use of force with any country both in the neighborhood and beyond. Its foreign policy is strictly within the set international rules of diplomacy and norms. China strictly adheres to five principles of peaceful co-existence as the fundamental bases of foreign policy and international relations. Irrespective of physical size, economic strength and military might, Beijing treats each and every country in the world on the basis of sovereign equality. It wants to promote friendly relations with all countries and extend cooperation for their development in every manner possible. As a result, China is being taken all over the world as a genuine partner of development and friend in need. This is called China’s soft power image and this image is gaining popularity with every passing day.

However, China reacts and responds firmly when its national security, unity and territorial integrity come under threat. The recent standoff with some of its neighbors in connection with the ownership over some islands in the South and East China Sea should be taken as an example of how seriously and firmly China takes the matter of its territorial integrity. Even dealing with these issues, China’s approach has always been cautious and more responsible.

While the United States has its strong presence in the Asia and the Pacific region, this region is China’s neighborhood. Beijing and Washington are, there, the key players in the security and stability in Asia and the Pacific region. These two powers are both competing and complementing in different areas as peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia and the Pacific region is almost impossible in the absence of mutual understanding and cooperation between Washington and Beijing. Developments have exhibited that these two countries seem to be moving ahead with their shared interests rather than magnifying the strategic disputes and differences. There are, of course, a number of areas in which Washington and Beijing have conflicting views and position. These issues include nuclear program of North Korea, territorial dispute in the South China and  East China, safe and secure navigation facilities in the Asia and the Pacific region including in the Strait of Malacca—the lifeline of international trade— and the overall security of the region. These are the test cases concerning the ability of these two great powers to deal with one another and ensure stability through mutual cooperation and in a collective manner.

 The United States has generally appreciated China's willingness to play a managerial role on nuclear issue of North Korea and other issues in the Asia and the Pacific region. Washington is seeking Beijing’s cooperation in denuclearizing North Korea by applying China’s overwhelming influence over Pyongyang.  However, China has demonstrated its unwillingness to do what Washington wants on North Korea’s nuclear issues. North Korea is a sovereign country and Beijing does not want to apply any kind of coercive approach to force Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear program. However, it has been playing the role of facilitator in resolving the issue by hosting a six-party dialogue, which has been taken as a positive step towards finding an amicable solution to the crisis. This is one area where Beijing and Washington are working together and cooperating between one another. Some strategic and foreign policy pundits in the United States often criticize China for not doing enough what the United States is seeking to do. In fact, Asia and the Pacific in general and North Korea in particular are areas of China’s strict strategic interest and China has its own approaches and tactics in dealing with the issues that are likely to have impact in the region. Americans either have failed to understand its ground reality or they are just making propaganda to vilify China.

China has its own strategic thinking and perception on the world and its neighborhood. This is more so with North Korea. China's strategic thinking about North Korea has evolved since the Cold War. Beijing prefers a united Korea instead of keeping the Korean Peninsula divided, which is also the desire of the majority of the Korean people in both the North and the South. According to Beijing, the United Korea would not only address the desire of the Korean people but would also contribute to the greater stability, peace and prosperity in the Asia and the Pacific. But the United States is not interested in the unification of Korea as Washington’s interests would be best served while keeping the Korean peninsula divided, while China believes that united and strong Korea is in the interest of the Korean people and the world. This is one of the fundamental factors where China and United States differ.

There are a number of reasons why China wants a united Korea. First, the improved relationship with South Korea, including efforts by the South Korean government to avoid antagonizing China, has given Beijing more confidence that a united Korea would be more beneficial not only to China but also the entire East Asia. Second, China is no longer interested in sponsoring any kind of political and economic model in other countries. Beijing believes that it is the desire of the Korean people to determine what kind of political system they want to have. China is eager to see that the desire and decision of the Korean people prevails.

Chinese leaders have, therefore, repeatedly urged Pyongyang to follow the successful Chinese economic and political model: liberalize economically and link it with the global economy while maintaining political stability at home. This approach would help North Korea to revive its economic development while addressing the concerns of its people. On issue concerning territorial dispute in the South China and East China Sea, Beijing clearly wants to resolve it bilaterally with countries involved in the conflict. While urging its neighbors including Japan, Philippines and Vietnam to maintain caution and responsibly on issue concerning territorial dispute, China has, at the same time, warned the extra continental powers to refrain from meddling in Asia and the Pacific region. China’s message is clear that Asia and the Pacific is its neighborhood and China is capable of handling and settling any kind of problem in the region on its own. This is yet another message that Beijing to resolve all the outstanding problems in its neighborhood in a peaceful and mutually acceptable manner with countries involved in conflict, as per Beijing’s strategy to promote its soft power image.