CHINESE FOREIGN POLICY

Chinese Foreign Policy

Abstract

In this study we will critically analyze the impact of the Chinese foreign policy on the dynamics of world politics, and the growing its growing friction with US policies. As China has become the strongest emerging power of the world, its influence over the world affairs has increased significantly. Hence we will examine the role of the Chinese policies in challenging the US hegemony, and the shift in the traditional Chinese policies. China has changed its foreign policy approach in the African continent; from acting as a non political economic force, it has now become an active player in the African national interests.

Table of Contents

Chinese Foreign Policy4

Introduction4

Thesis Statement5

Discussion6

China's Middle Eastern Policy6

A Conservative Approach: Forming Strategic Alliances6

Chinese Oil Alliances: Saudi Arabia & Iran8

Chinese Exports: Balance of Trade9

China's Foreign Policy towards Africa9

Chinese Influence against the US Hegemony12

Conclusion13

Chinese Foreign Policy

Introduction

The fundamentals of China's modern foreign policy have been laid by the core philosophy of self reliance; propagated by Chairman Mao Zedong throughout the 1950s and 1960s. The country has had to face numerous challenges on the global stage as majority of the Western powers have failed to recognize the legitimacy of the nation. Ever since the founding of the country in 1949, China has had endure several domestic and international challenges; which have shaped the foreign policy of the country (Bremmer, 2012). Mao's communist government had managed to win the national Civil war and formally establish the People's Republic of China; however it failed to gain the support from several superpowers of the world. The Americans had ideological differences with a communist country, as it was already embroiled in the Cold War with the former Soviet Union. The US along with several other countries continued to disregard the newly formed communist nation and supported the previous Republic of China. Although this defeated force had fled to Taiwan defeated by Mao's government, majority of the Western Powers still wanted to see the previous government take control of the country (Dark, 2000).

Throughout the early decades China, did not adequately represent itself in the international conferences. Taiwan continued to control China's embassies throughout the world, and held seats in the United Nations and other conferences as the official Chinese representative. This phenomenon was drastically changed in the early 1970s, as the American government under Nixon initiated discussions with the People's Republic of China, and prompted the United Nation to recognize the legitimacy of the country (Chow, 2007).

Since being recognized as a legitimate state; the Chinese government through strategic economic and political endeavors, has formed a steady path to continuous growth throughout the 1970's. This steady growth over the decades; transformed into a monumental shift in the global balance of power, that saw China emerge as an emerging super power in the 2000's. The robust growth of China in the 2000s era, took the whole world by surprise and America was among the most nations, most concerned by this radical growth. In an era where the US was confronted by initiating expensive ...