EFTA00614474.pdf

PAGE 8 CHINA DAILY EUROPEAN WEEKLY JANUARY 9-15, 2015 Cover story: Comment Maritime Silk Road shows way forward GEOPOLITICAL INITIATIVE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF NATION'S CONSTRUCTIVE AND PEACEFUL RISE By ROBERT LAWRENCE1CUHN n 'inflection point" in A mathematics occurs when there is a change of cur- vature, say from concave to convex, at a particular point on a curve. There is now, at this particu- lar point of time, an inflection point occurring in China's diplomacy, as the country changes from reactive to proactive in its international rela- tions. Future historians may charac- terize this transformation as one of the defining geopolitical trends of the first half of the 21st century. I am pleased to see China's emer- gence but too many foreigners are not — they worry, openly or private- ly, about what a strong China may do. The so-called "China Threat" is real in that many foreigners believe it to be real. But do these people know the real China? Deng Xiaoping, China "Para- mount Leader who initiated reform and opening-up in the late 19705, said famously that China should "hide our capabilities and bide our time': His directive is often misinter- preted as advising that China, like a growing lion, should lie low while strengthening itself so that eventu- ally it can pounce. In fact, Deng sim- ply wanted China to build its own economy and never again be bullied by foreign powers. Has China "time" now come? ZHANG CHENGLIANG /CHINA DAILY President Xi Jinping has given his clearest directive for China's for- to the world order, Xi is reshap- civilizations; respect each other's ington will have to accept that the The US and China should change eign policy and it is certainly more ing the diplomatic landscape with choice of development path; focus Western democratic model may not tired ways of thinking. The US engaged with the world. Speaking "active engagement': For example, on mutually beneficial cooperation; be ideal for all nations at all times. should come to see China without to senior Party officials last year at Xi describes a new category of coun- and advocate dialogue and peace. (The Middle East teaches this les- the distorting lens of old history and a top-level conference on foreign tries, which he labels "major devel- Practically, to implement the Silk son.) China must continue to deter- the Cold Wan Decades have passed affairs, the first in eight years, Xi oping powers" (such as India, Brazil Road spirit, Xi calls for global think- mine and develop its own system. since China felt compelled to export described China's new diplomacy. and South Africa) and with which ing that is "both farsighted and down- In my dream of a post-adversarial the non-existent "glories" of extreme Articulating the "strategic objec- China should "expand cooperation" to-earth" and suggests a "1+2+3" world, China assumes increasing leftist "Utopia': Tbday's China has no tives and principal tasks of foreign and "closely integrate our country's cooperation pattern: "1" means coop- responsibility for world peace and interest in converting the world to affairs work; Xi stresses safeguard- development': Furthermore, China eration in energy, the whole indus- prosperity which includes oppos- its road of development or political ing China's core interests, crafting should take leadership in the devel- trial chain of oil and natural gas; "2" ing regimes that trouble their own system. a conducive international environ- oping world and "speak for other refers to "two wings" — one being people. In seeking the moral opti- China must pursue its own self- ment, and hastening the nation's developing countries". infrastructure and the other being mum, China may have to tear up old interests, which stress improving emergence as a great power. China, From climate change to interna- trade and investment, including scripts. standards of living and the country's he says, should conduct "diplomacy tional peacekeeping, Xi is changing Chinese investment in energy petro- For its part, the US should reject increasing prominence and prestige. as a great power" in an increas- China from a sometime reluctant chemicals, agriculture, manufactur- the Cold War mentality of "contain- To secure the former, China requires ingly "multipolar" world — "making follower to an often creative leader. ing, and services; "3" describes three ing China', resisting its rise, as being international stability lb enable the friends and forming partnership China has re-emerged as a great breakthrough, advanced technologies both archaic and self-defeating. Of latter, China must take the moral networks throughout the world" and power and there is no turning back — nuclear energy space satellites and course, there would remain areas high ground in international affairs. "striving to gain more understanding What is Xi's grand vision for Chi- new energy. of contention — balance of trade, I applaud when China assumes and support from countries all over na? The world is watching; many are For China to fulfill its potential human rights, territorial disputes more responsibility in promoting the world" for the Chinese Dream. hopeful, but too many are fearful. as a global leader, it must gain the — but different political systems global stability, from reining in rogue China cannot compete for global Some wonder about Xit intent. But worldk respect for its principles and should not be one of them. Politico- regimes to providing humanitarian leadership by power alone. Econom- there is now no need to wonder; he philosophies, not only for its econo- economic theories constructed in the relief. In today's world, the real con- ic and military strength, while neces- has made his intent dear in his new my and military This involves appre- 18th and 19th centuries have little flict is not between opposing politi- sary, are not sufficient There must book Xi Jinping: The Governance of ciation for China's self-determined utility in the 21st century, where cal systems but rather between the also be moral and ethical aspects China. "road of development- and for its most nations optimize free markets forces of modernity, competence and to China's rise: China must ride the Seven of the book's 18 chapters political system, particularly the per- and government regulation that by development on the one hand and high road, offering an alternative deal with foreign affairs; two stress petual leadership of the ruling party. nature can be neither generalized those of ignorance, exploitation and geopolitical vision that is in some the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st This is a larger topic but such nor static. oppression on the other. sense superior to that of the West century — President Xi's novel appreciation can develop only with a It is in the national interests of As such, Chinas increasing China, Xi asserts, should "see to it initiative for multinational develop- kind of convergence, where China China and the US to work together engagement with global diplomacy that equal importance is attached to ment that exemplifies his strategic political system continues to reform, such that their foreign policies begin should be celebrated. justice and benefits. stress faithful- thinking. Appealing broadly to the with increasing transparency and to converge. Surely there are nation- ness, value friendship, carry forward roughly 50 countries participating, freedoms, and where foreigners alistic issues, and conflicts can com- The author is an international cor- righteousness. and foster ethics". Xi created a $40 billion Silk Road come to understand that pragmatic pound when parochial media focus porate strategist and political/eco- M a top-level session on regional Fund to complement the more gen- competence managing China's com- on real or perceived differences. nomies commentator. He spoke at the free trade, Xi called for China to eral $50 billion Asia Infrastructure plex society trumps idealistic ideolo- The real achievements of nations book launch ceremony of Xi Jinping: "participate and lead, make Chinat Investment Bank gies of multi-party democracies. — increasing citizens 'veil-being The Governance of China and he is voice heard, and inject more Chi- Philosophically, to promote the For China not to view the United — are the synergistic accretions of the author of How China'S Leaders nese elements into international Silk Road spirit, Xi offers four princi- States as its adversary, not as a threat advanced education, knowledge cre- Think The views do not necessarily rules': lb effect such historic change ples: boost mutual learning between to its system and government, Wash- ation and technology utilization. reflect those of China Daily. EFTA00614474