SPEAKING FREELY Beijing's diplomatic blitz gathers pace
By Zhiqun Zhu
Speaking Freely is an Asia Times Online feature that allows guest writers to have
their say.
Pleaseclick hereif you are interested in contributing.
As the Year of the Ox rang in, China launched a new wave of top-level
diplomacy. In the short span of two weeks, Chinese leaders became
globe-trotters, with their footprints left in Europe, Latin America, the
Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East. The frequency, intensity and magnitude
of China's latest diplomatic moves are unprecedented in contemporary
international relations.
This new wave of high-level diplomacy started with Premier Wen
Jiabao's attendance at the Davos World Economic Forum in Switzerland on January
28 and his subsequent visits to European Union headquarters in Brussels as well
as Germany, Spain and Britain.
Shortly after Premier Wen returned to Beijing, both President Hu Jintao and
Vice President Xi Jinping traveled abroad at roughly the same time. Hu made a
stop in Saudi Arabia on February 10 before heading to Mali, Senegal, Tanzania
and Mauritius, his sixth visit to Africa in 10 years, underlining the
importance of the region in China's geopolitical strategy.
Vice President Xi Jinping started his visits to Latin America and the Caribbean
in Mexico on February 8 before going on to Jamaica, Colombia, Venezuela and
Brazil. He also visited Malta at the end of this trip. It is the first time
both the president and the vice president of China travelled abroad at the same
time.
In a unique, double-pronged diplomatic offensive towards Latin America and the
Caribbean, Hui Liangyu, the vice premier in charge of agricultural and economic
affairs, toured Argentina, Ecuador, Barbados and the Bahamas between February 7
and 19 while Xi was in the neighborhood. That two of China's top leaders were
in the region at almost the same time highlights Beijing's ongoing efforts to
strengthen ties and enhance its influence in Latin America and the Caribbean.
One is dazzled and probably puzzled by this intensive and extensive high-level
Chinese diplomacy. What are the purposes of these visits? What messages does
China want to convey to the international community?
Before China's top leaders embarked on these visits, Foreign Minister Yang
Jiechi began 2009 by visiting Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi and South Africa in early
January. In the past 20 years, it has been a New Year ritual for the Chinese
foreign minister to start his annual overseas trips in Africa. Yang's visits,
together with the latest highest-level travels, are all part and parcel of
China's new diplomacy, which is characterized by its consistency, maturity,
breadth and depth. It reveals how China is presenting its image and asserting
its position in the international political economy today.
A responsible and cooperative power
Wen labeled his Europe trip as a "journey of confidence". In Davos, London,
Berlin, Brussels and elsewhere, Wen assured European and world leaders that
China will help stabilize the global economy by promoting continued growth
domestically - a welcoming message as Europe and the rest of the world are
struggling to recover from the financial crisis.
The current financial crisis has hit China hard. By mid-2008, nearly 70,000
small to medium-sized export-oriented businesses in China were forced to close.
Over 20 million migrant rural workers have lost their jobs so far and Chinese
leaders have warned of labor strife. These and other domestic challenges are
staggering. However, with the largest foreign exchange reserves in the world,
China is in better shape than many economies to deal with the current economic
challenges.
With all eyes on China for the salvation of the global economy, Beijing has
acted responsibly. During Wen's Europe tour, China helped to stimulate European
economies by signing business deals to purchase goods and services worth 15
billion yuan (US$2.1 billion). Some in the West have unwisely pressured China
to let the yuan appreciate further to help reduce trade deficits with China.
Despite the domestic call for the government to weaken the currency in order to
help Chinese exports, China has maintained a stable currency in the past three
years after a rise of over 20%, helping to stabilize the global economy - a
fact not very much appreciated in the West. A floating yuan now may lead to the
fall of the US dollar and create inflationary pressure in the United States and
elsewhere.
China's recent announcement of spending $123 billion to establish universal
health care by 2011 for the country's 1.3 billion people is another effort to
stimulate domestic consumption. With their health taken care of, the Chinese
may decide to save less and spend more. Though Wen remarked modestly that China
could only save itself, not the world, it is clear that the country is ready to
weather this financial storm together with the rest of the international
community.
A friend in need
China and other developing countries have helped each other in times of need.
Before he traveled to Africa, President Hu paid an official visit to Saudi
Arabia. Besides the fact that Saudi Arabia is the largest supplier of crude oil
to China, a special purpose for Hu's visit, according to Chinese media, was to
thank the Saudi government for providing the largest donation to China after
the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
Partially in response to charges that China is only interested in resources in
Africa, Hu visited several relatively resource-poor nations this time. His trip
is designed to reassure Africa and other developing regions that China's
interests extend beyond oil and mining.
To ward off criticism that Beijing exploits the world's poorest continent,
China has reaffirmed that it would not cut financial aid and loans to African
countries during hard economic times. During his visit to Mali, Hu laid the
first brick of a "Friendship Bridge" in its capital. The 2.6km, $74.9 million
"Sino-Malian Friendship Bridge" over the Niger River in Bamako will be the
largest project carried out in West Africa as a Chinese donation. China's
investments and loans have benefited other developing regions. In January 2009,
China became a member of the Inter-American Development Bank, pouring $350
million into the bank's coffers for infrastructure spending in the region.
Africa, like other developing regions, is welcoming Beijing's new diplomatic
moves not just because of its rich resources but also because of its strong
support for China in international affairs. The UN Human Rights Council
reviewed China's human rights record in early February 2009. Some Western
countries criticized China on issues such as Tibet as well as civil and
political rights in China, while developing countries generally praised China
for its economic development and efforts to eliminate poverty.
With strong support from developing countries, the UN Human Rights Council
concluded that China's human rights record was "on track". Differences between
developed and developing nations over the human rights issue will remain. China
will continue to rely on support from the developing world as a counter force
to Western pressure on human rights.
Less dependent on the US and Europe
In the Chinese language, the word "crisis" consists of two characters wei
(danger) and ji (opportunity). China is attempting to convert the global
financial crisis into an opportunity to improve its long-term economic
advantage and energy security. China's exports to Europe and North America have
shrunk substantially as a result of declining demand in these markets. China is
desperate to open up and maintain new markets in Africa, Latin America and
elsewhere. China's trade with Africa and Latin America has both soared to over
$100 billion in 2008.
Some worry that China may sell US Treasury bonds as a way to consolidate its
own economy. The fact is, selling a large part of US holdings will be
counter-productive because it would probably cause bond prices and the dollar
to fall sharply, which will immediately reduce China's own foreign exchange
reserves.
The Chinese government has indicated that it will continue to purchase US
Treasury bonds, but obviously it will no longer put all of its eggs in one
basket. Its active diplomacy around the world is part of its strategy to
diversify investment risks. Recent Chinese investments and purchases have taken
place in Africa, Latin America, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and
Southeast Asia, among others.
An episode during Wen's visit to London is revealing of Chinese leaders'
confidence and maturity. While speaking to students and faculty at Cambridge
University, a student from the audience threw a shoe at Wen, mimicking the now
famous Iraqi journalist's act during a press conference between former
president George W Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in December
2008. “This despicable behavior cannot stand in the way of friendship between
China and the UK,” a very calm and collected Wen said to loud applause before
continuing with his speech.
Chinese leaders never forget to promote China's "soft power" abroad these days.
During his visit to Jamaica, Vice President Xi found time to attend the opening
ceremony of the Confucius Institute on the Mona Campus of Jamaica's prestigious
University of the West Indies, in Kingston. So far, China has set up over 300
Confucius Institutes worldwide, promoting Chinese language and traditional
culture.
As a growing power China will continue to pursue active diplomacy and play a
bigger role in international affairs. China's expanding trade, aid and
investments around the world are evidence of its strength in today's troubled
global economy. As Chinese leaders have suggested, maintaining the stability of
the Chinese economy is a great contribution to the recovery of the global
economy.
China's new diplomacy undoubtedly serves its own national interests first, but
it is also conducive to global development. During her maiden trip to Beijing
as America's top diplomat, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remarked that
the United States and China must cooperate and lead the global recovery. China
has become an indispensable player in world affairs.
The world will enter a new "Chimerica" era, as Harvard history professor Niall
Ferguson has suggested. One should welcome China's full participation in the
international political economy and encourage its transition to a more
transparent and democratic system. One hopes that China's development will
continue to be stable, peaceful and beneficial to the rest of the world.
Zhiqun Zhu, PhD, is MacArthur Chair in East Asian Politics and an
associate professor of political science and international relations at
Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. He can be reached at zhiqun.zhu@bucknell.edu.
(Copyright 2009 Zhiqun Zhu.)
Speaking Freely is an Asia Times Online feature that allows guest writers to have
their say.
Pleaseclick hereif you are interested in contributing.
Head
Office: Unit B, 16/F, Li Dong Building, No. 9 Li Yuen Street East,
Central, Hong Kong Thailand Bureau:
11/13 Petchkasem Road, Hua Hin, Prachuab Kirikhan, Thailand 77110
