China's Diplomacy in 2021: Embracing a Global Vision and Serving the Nation and Its People
Wang Yi
In the tug of war between division and antagonism on the one hand and openness and win-win results on the other, China has all along stood on the right side of history, on the side of human progress, on the side of international equality and justice, and on the side of the vast majority of developing countries. Whether it is helping to combat COVID-19 or injecting new momentum into the global economic recovery, there is one clear theme that runs throughout China’s diplomacy: serving national rejuvenation amidst a complex situation and advancing peaceful development in a rapidly changing world.
China's Foreign Aid and International Development Cooperation in a COVID-19 Pandemic World
Luo Zhaohui
By focusing on international cooperation in fighting the pandemic and supporting "small yet smart" assistance programs that benefit people's livelihoods, China’s foreign aid has not only promoted pandemic response and socio-economic recovery of recipient countries, but also helped China build a new development paradigm and safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests. In the face of a turbulent and changing world, the unique role of foreign aid as an important tool for building a community with a shared future has become even clearer.
Upgrading the China-ASEAN Partnership: ASEAN's Concerns, China's Responsibility and Regional Order
Wei Ling
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, it has become even more urgent for ASEAN to strengthen internal unity and enhance cooperation with major powers to address non-traditional security threats and achieve economic recovery. Unequal relations between China and ASEAN on the one hand, and increasing competition between China and the US on the other, have led ASEAN to be both wary and expectant of China’s rise. Upgrading the China-ASEAN partnership is therefore of far-reaching significance.
Transatlantic Policy Coordination on China and Its Limitations
Yan Shaohua
With the continued rise of China and the transformation of EU and US policies toward China, the China factor has been increasingly important in transatlantic relations and has become a major concern for both sides. Despite some convergence in European and American perceptions and policies toward China, the structural differences between the two mean that policy coordination is more likely to result in a tactical, issue-based coalition rather than a strategic alliance against China.
The Implications of Brexit for Transatlantic Relations
Zhang Bei
The United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union undoubtedly ranks among Europe's most serious events in recent years. Therefore, an analysis of how Brexit has reshaped the EU and then impacted US-Europe relations is of major significance. Admittedly, Brexit is far from being the only variable in the fast changing European situation, but given the UK’s special position between Europe and the US and the profound impact of Brexit on European integration, the influence of Brexit on transatlantic relations deserves particular attention.
Value-based Diplomacy: The Diplomatic Axis of the New German Government?
Xiong Wei & Jiang Hao
In the case of Germany, value-based diplomacy refers to a form of diplomacy that bases foreign policy decisions and diplomatic conduct on values and is not primarily driven by immediate national interests. Although the value-based type of diplomacy may not involve ideological confrontation or a conflict of values in China-Germany relations, the space for Chinese-German political cooperation may become narrower given the restrictions on the spillover effects of trade and economic ties.
US "Minilateralism" and Its Effort to Reshape the Global Economic and Trade System
Shen Wei & Hu Yaohui
In recent years, the US has sought to foster a "minilateral" economic and trade system to have a firm grip on the power of rules-making in global economic competition. With the gradual expansion of American minilateralism, China is facing institutional challenges arising from the reshaping of global rules. While critically learning from some US practices, China needs to create international rules in line with its own interests and put itself at the forefront of global economic development trends.