How has Chinese FP change since Moa and how important are economics? Essay

Throughout History, china ware and her immaterial policy has been the focus of much controersy and reach in the fields of History and International Relations. The size, geographical position, culture and politics of china befool it, and have do it one of the most pregnant actors in regional and international affairs. The aims and nature of Chinese foreign policy have been through a number of important changes in the twentieth vitamin C.This essay will examine the principles of Chinese contrary Policy after the death of leader monoamine oxidase Tse Tung and will discuss the importance frugals has on the look of post monoamine oxidase foreign Policy. This essay will first discuss the principle aims and practises of Chinese foreign policy under Mao as a home to compare the post Mao characteristics. The essay will then examine the study(ip) aspects of Chinas foreign policy that occurred during and after Maos leadership in terms of the relations with the west, relations with the Soviet bloc, relations with one-third man revolutionary groups and the so called opposition to hegemonism. Through canvas these factors the essay will examine the importance of economic factors in chinas foreign policy since Mao. As an example of how China works in the international system the essay will discuss the relations ultramodern China has with its major neighbours in terms of military, political and, importantly, economic factors.In a discussion of post Mao Chinese foreign policy it is important to understand the foreign policy during the leadership of Mao Tse Tung. It is first important to poster that Maos handling of Chinese foreign policy was non a wiz phase in itself and did non follow a single characteristic and it is excessively important to note that many principles of current Sino-foreign relations stem back to Mao. In 1949 after decades of civil war and political agitation the Chinese Communist party founded the Peoples Republic of China. Mao Tse Tung , the chairman of the Chinese Communist Party was now the political leader of over a billion Chinese people. Under Mao major social and internal changes were under repeln alongside a noticeable change in the relations with outsiders.The first major change was the five-year plan, in the midst of 1952 and 1957, during these years China opened up to a foreign state, the Soviet Union, in a way never before seen in China (1, pp47). This can be analysed as part of Maos let foreign things serve China(1,pp47) attitude, an attitude that, if vague, encouraged the Chinese to make a distinction between the damaging and the helpful elements of foreign influences. This period also saw Mao introducing the five principles of peaceful coexistence, principles that, at to the lowest degree(prenominal) publicly would become the backbone to the overt actions of Chinas foreign relations.These principles, call forthed by premier Zhou Enlai, claim to bastardly China relations on shared respect for so vereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each others internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence (8). The validity of these principles is obviously in question and it would attend that many could be described as world contradictory to Chinas practice of foreign policy especially during the cold-blooded War. Chinas threatening stance over Taiwan, the invasion of Tibet and support for North Korea during the Korean war during this period can be argued to contradict the claims made by the five principles.Chinas relations with the two major cold war super-powers were often pivotal in Chinese decision-making under Mao. It seemed that during the primal cold war years, China began to emerge from her self-imposed exile as it opened up to the Soviet Union. The later Maoist era however also saw a turn away from Soviet domination during the early to mid sixties partly due to what the Chinese often refer to as Soviet Chauvini sm(6,Liu Huaqiu article) and an approach to what can be called the Period of Cooperation (2,pp280) with America.One of Chinas major advantages during the Cold War was the ability to choose between the two super-powers of the era. The build up of both Chinese and soviet troops on the border (6, Liu Huaqiu article), the general rise in tensions between the two powers over the interference of Soviet facilitators helping develop Chinese industry may have contributed to Maos movement, politically, toward the US. US-Sino relations were obviously damaged due to the social function of Chinese volunteers in the Korean War. The first stepping-stone in this new cooperation and the smoothing of post Korea relations was the famous Shanghai Communiqu of 1971-2 (2,pp280) involving American a visit to the Peoples Republic of China by President Richard Nixon and a meeting with Chairman Mao.It is difficult to examine in detail the complex elements of Maos foreign policy in the limited space this ess ay allows. However, it is important not to lay to much focus on Chinas relations with the two super powers. otherwise elements lay at the heart of Maos foreign policies, elements that also changed through his years of leadership. His economic policy, in the beginning based on the Marxist/Soviet principles of state controlled commerce began to reform, at least in the final Mao years, towards a more free market based economy. Political ties two Marxist revolutionary groups in third world countries also played a major role in Maos foreign policy making. Mao, not believing in a two-bloc world or a one bloc revolution, made major contributions to numerous third world Marxist revolutionaries as part of what Mao saw, at least publicly, as a way of achieving global revolution through the global working class (1 pp94-95).On a more power political level it could be argued that if these revolutions were successful China could develop allies in important places. Korea is an example of Marxi st revolution support by the Chinese in a strategically important country (7). Maos foreign policy cannot be described in a single word. His unstable relations with the US and USSR, the changes he made in the economy make understanding the drive behind Maos foreign policy challenging. It can be argued that the erratic foreign policy of Mao was a symptom of the erratic domestic, the failing Cultural Revolution and the great take form forward may have forced Mao to change policy. The importance of understanding the legacy Mao left at his death to future Chinese administrations is not to be underestimated when studying post Mao foreign policy. contempt the major changes in the nature of Chinese foreign policy Maos legacy and influence has in no way been ignored and it is important to first examine the affect of Maos policies on Chinas foreign policy after his death. The public face of Chinese foreign policy still emphasise Maos so called Five Principles of dovish Coexistence as being the centre of its actions (6). Despite continued evidence of Chinas ignorance of the policy the public face of China on the international prognosis will often claim to be following these principles. Mao also initiated the cooperation with the United States that has, even if the family relationship has sometimes been strained, continued as a major party of Chinese foreign relations. Mao also influenced the Chinese continued stance of vigilance towards the other cold war super power the USSR (3, pp201). Despite the changes that this essay shall now analyse the examples given suggest that Maos influence was not forgotten in the formulation of cold war and modern foreign policy.In discussing post Mao foreign policy it is important to understand the importance of economic development in the new era of Hesperian cooperation. Economic development also gives an interesting starting point to the discussion of the importance of economics in Chinese Foreign Policy after Mao. thither were m any major attempts to both open and develop china economically by the new more moderate post Mao regime. The Open verge policy initiated by Mao was, after his death, intensified and relations with the West and especially the US carried out through businessmen now allowed into the once anti-capitalist purlieu (1,pp125).This new openness also coincided with internal economic reform. In 1978, the new chairman, Deng Xiaoping, introduced the Four Modernisations, a way of developing the country through modernising elements of agriculture, industry, national self-abnegation and science and technology as part of a ten-year plan. Deng also began the introduction and proliferation of Chinas free enterprise economy (9). These economic development changes had a radical effect on Chinas foreign policy. No longer an isolated communist country China began to move toward an economy base and even reliant on western capitalist systems (9,2,). This can be seen as evidence for the view that Chinas e conomic health was gradually being placed at the forefront of her foreign policy and her position in the international system.Chinas relations with the Western and economically actual nations, especially the US and Japan provides interesting perspective when analysing the changes nature of chinas foreign policy after Mao. As previously discussed the Open doorstep policy played a major role in the development of improved, or at least cooperative relations with the western world. One of the major characteristics of post Mao foreign policy was the continued hatred of the USSR and, as previously noted, the move toward the US as its master(prenominal) source of political and economic support. Towards the end of the 1970s the US even quietly aided China militarily against the soviets. During this period the military support was covert and originally involved eaves move equipment for intelligence gathering. However the military support became more public as the USSRs war in Afghanista n began to escalate with America aiding the Chinese with no lethal and logistical support for defence against possible Soviet attacks (2, pp 202).This military cooperation was could be used as evidence for suggesting the idea that the view my enemies enemy is my friend was the basis of Sino-US relations. However, evidence suggests that economics could be described as being at the centre of Chinas relations with the developed world. As the cold war dragged on china began to turn more and more to the west for infrastructure development purchasing Nuclear reactors and factories. The new relationship with he west was not only beneficial to China, oil companies, such as BP and EXXON, were able to mine Chinas oil reserves (2,pp203).This new economically charged relationship continued through out the later years of the cold war. Despite some obvious stumbling blocks, such as Tiananmen Square, the relationship with the west has, at least privately, flourished even if publicly western leade r denounce Chinas political system (6,7). Chinas relationship with the west was not, as was originally expected (1, pp237-247), significantly changed by the ending of the Cold War. Despite some further stumbling blocks and diplomatic incidents, such as the collision of a US discern plane and a Chinese fighter jet in April 2001, and the continuation of sanctions China has become more and more reliant on the US. Ignoring its claims of opposing hegemonism Chinas economic reliance on the western powers looks set to intensify. A way of simplifying the Chinese relation to the west could be done through describing it as a publicly strained and privately flourishing especially in the light of the events of September 11th.One of the major political changes in the post Mao era is the changing nature of Chinas relations with the Third World. Under Mao, China often saw the third world as its main source of economic and political support and also considered the third world as being chinas main allies in combating US and Soviet attempts at hegemonism (1,pp234), (6). Mao, who considered China to be a leader of the third world and, as previously stated, also saw the third world as the backbone to a world revolution. After the death of Mao Chinas political and economic support began to move from the third world to the US and Western Europe. There major change in the relations with the third world was the removal of support for Marxist revolutionaries and a turn away from the world revolutionary principles of Mao.However, the perceived importance of the third world was not completely from foreign policy decision makers. The third world, in the eyes of the Chinese, was considered to be the precession target for the USSR to spread the Soviet hegemony (1,pp234-236)(5,pp181-183)(6). This could be the reason behind China attempts to remove soviet influence from third world neighbours. The successful invasion of the third world country Cambodia (1978) and the unsuccessful invasion of Vietnam (1979) could be analysed as examples of these Chinese attempts to remove soviet influence. Chinas involvement with the third world began to take a new form in the late eighties and toward the end of the cold war. Diplomatic ties with Africa especially were rebooted.Many argue that this was due to the sanctions imposed by the west in reaction to the Tiananmen massacre in 1989 (5,pp183). Despite Chinas declination to join major third world organisations, China has linked with numerous third world countries such as Singapore to create a third world immunity from super power influence and supports the proposition of a New Economic Order developed by other third world states (5,pp183). So as far as Chinas relations with third world nations can be analysed they have gone through a major change since Maos death and seem to be, not surprisingly, rooted in economic necessity rather than ideological or political will.To conclude this essay there is considerable evidence to sugges t that Maos death, in September 1976, had a dramatic affect on Chinas domestic situation and an even more important affect on Chinas relations with the International System and the her foreign policy decision making. Chinas foreign policy has, since Mao, been more and more influenced by economic factors. It is arguably possible to connect most major aspects of change since Mao to the Chinese governments will to economically develop the country with political and ideological aspects such as the global revolution, military security and opposition hegemonism being placed either at a lower priority or interlinked with Economic Foreign Policy.Even if not directly economic it could easily be argued that most changes have at least an indirect affect on the economic growth of China and that these changes have been done for the Chinas economic security. As china moves into the 21st century it appears that on a political level the regime has begun, especially since the September 11th terroris t attacks on America, to move toward a more interdependent relationship with the west. It seems evident however that the soothing of relations with western power, despite the political and moralist claim, will be, as before, based more on the economic well being of China.Bibliography1 M. Yahunda, Chinas Foreign Policy after Mao, Macmillan, 1983, Hong Kong2 J. B. Starr, Understanding China (2nd Edition), Profile Books, 2001, US3 E. E. Moise, Modern China (2nd edition), Longman, 1994, UK4 T. Siach, Government and politics of China, Plagrave, 2001, New York US5 Chien-Min Chao, B.J. Dickson, Remaking the Chinese State, Rutledge, 2001, London (UK)6 Chinese Embassy Web sitehttp//www.china-embassy.org7 Chinese Foreign Policy, Article http//english.peopledaily.com.cn/china/19990914A128.html8 Principles of Chinese Foreign Policyhttp//afe.easia.columbia.edu/teachingaids/china/for_pol/resource.htm9 After Mao and Through the 1980s, May 9, 2000http//history.binghamton.edu/hist274/May9.htm