A Hierarchical Vision of Order: Understanding Chinese Foreign Policy in Asia

Description

China’s vision for international order is a matter of great global interest. This book analyses China’s vision for foreign policy and how it is seeking to achieve its goals with its immediate neighbours. The book provides a historically informed account by examining the legacy of China’s imperial past and traditional political philosophy, giving insights into the country’s view of its place in today’s world. It argues that China today sees the maintenance of order as its own responsibility and that it believes this order needs to attribute different roles to ‘small’ and ‘big’ states to ensure stability. Furthermore, it explores the different tools China employs to achieve its vision, including a proactive diplomacy, the control of international discourse, threat of punishment for ‘misbehaviour’, and the promise of economic benefits in return for compliance. Contents Acknowledgements Introduction 1 Aspects of Asia as an International System 2 The Ideal of Hierarchical Order 3 Statecraft in the Long Imperial Era 4 China’s Forced Entry into International Society and the Transformation of the Ideal of Hierarchical Order 5 The Pursuit of a Hierarchical Order in the People’s Republic of China 6 Moral Discourse and Ritual in Contemporary Chinese Diplomacy 7 Traditional Tools of Rulership in the Modern World Conclusion References Index