Chinese International Relations since 1949

Welcome to GCST A216 Chinese International Relations since 1949.

This course is a one-semester, five-credit, middle level course for HKMU students. There are no prerequisites for this course. The course will be delivered via print-based study materials supplemented with face-to-face sessions and an online study forum on HKMU's Online Learning Environment (OLE). The study units, suggested readings, assignments and self-tests will help you master the topics over a period of around 16 weeks.

The rise of China is an immense yet still-unfolding drama. Its significance and implications for the world, however, remain the subject of debate among scholars, media and policymakers. This course provides a starting point for understanding and rethinking Chinese international relations since 1949.

Unit 1 examines how historically-constructed and collectively-shared ideas have shaped China's perceptions, objectives and behaviour. Unit 2 traces the history of the People's Republic's foreign policy, and dissects its foreign policy making today. The following three units address three key areas in contemporary Chinese international relations. Unit 3 looks at China's relations with the world's major powers, with particular focus on the United States. Unit 4 shifts the focus to East Asia, where the rising power is faced with multiple foreign policy challenges. Unit 5 analyses China's changing attitude and behaviour towards global and regional governance.

Together these study units will guide you as you learn the many ways in which China and the world have shaped, and will shape, each other.

Purpose of this Course Guide

I would like you to read this Course Guide thoroughly and carefully before looking at the study units or suggested readings.

This Course Guide tells you briefly what this course is about, and how you can work your way through the course materials. It suggests the amount of time you will likely need to complete the course, and it will give you a general idea of when your assignments are due. For detailed information on assignments, however, please refer to the Assignment File; and for information concerning due dates for the submission of work, please refer to the Presentation Schedule on the OLE.

The study units for GCST A216 have been prepared by an HKMU course development team. You can read and work through these specially-designed study materials at your own pace at times and places that suit you best.

You can think of working through each study unit as reading your lectures instead of hearing them from a tutor. But in the same way that a tutor might set you some readings to do, the study units will tell you when to read your suggested readings or other materials.

In the same way that a tutor may give you an in-class exercise, your study units will also provide exercises (i.e. self-tests and activities) for you to do at appropriate points. You should do your best to complete them all, as these exercises and questions give you the practice necessary to achieve the objectives of the course and pass the examination. Finally, just as you 'make notes' in a face-to-face lecture, you are advised to take notes as you work through the study units and your course materials, and to read and think about them in relation to each other.

Course aims

The overall aim of this course is to help students develop a broad understanding of Chinese international relations from both historical and political perspectives. By engaging you in the debates on China's rise, its foreign policy and diplomatic relations, it develops your ability to critically analyse contemporary issues in Chinese international relations.

Course learning outcomes

Upon completion of GCST A216, you should be able to:

• explain the key historical developments in Chinese international relations since 1949;
• outline and compare Chinese foreign policy and its guiding principles under different generations of leadership;
• discuss the significance and implications of China's rise for itself, East Asia and the world;
• evaluate Western and Chinese debates on China's rise and Chinese foreign policy;
• assess the impact of historically-constructed and collectively-shared ideas on China's perceptions, objectives and behaviour towards its neighbours and the world; and
• analyse contemporary issues in Chinese international relations with reference to relevant concepts, theories and debates.

Course overview

The following chart gives a general overview of the course structure.

Study units

Unit 1 — Worldview, historical memories and national identity in Chinese international relations

Scholars, observers and policymakers — both inside and outside China — have been trying to answer the question of what the rising power wants. Perception, objectives and behaviour, however, cannot be understood without understanding their roots. This unit traces and interrogates the historically-constructed and collectively-shared ideas that have influenced China's understanding of itself and its relations with others. Part 1 examines how the tributary system — or at least the idea of it — has shaped China's worldview. Part 2 looks at the (re)production of historical memories about the 'century of humiliation'. Part 3 discusses the impact of knowledge, nationalism and the problem of legitimacy on Chinese international relations.

Learning objectives

Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:

• explain the key historical developments in Chinese international relations prior to 1949;
• discuss how the (re)production of historical memories has (re)constituted China's national identity, interests and objectives;
• analyse the relationship between nationalism, legitimacy and foreign policy making in contemporary China; and
• analyse how historically-constructed and collectively-shared ideas have shaped contemporary China's attitude and behaviour towards its neighbours and the world.

Unit 2 — Continuity and change in Chinese foreign policy since 1949

Political leadership often exercises decisive influence on foreign policy making, and China is no exception. This unit sets the background by tracing the continuity and change of Chinese foreign policy since 1949. The first three parts provide a comparative overview of Chinese foreign policy and its guiding principles under different generations of leadership. The final part examines the actors, ideology and process of foreign policy making in contemporary China.

Learning objectives

Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:

• explain the key historical developments in Chinese international relations from the Mao Zedong era to the present;
• explain and compare the grand strategy and foreign policy principles under different generations of leadership;
• identify the actors, ideology and process of Chinese foreign policy making;
• evaluate the contemporary debate(s) on Chinese foreign policy strategy; and
• discuss the relationship between domestic politics and foreign policy.

Unit 3 — China and major power relations

Since the beginning of the 21st century, China has conducted diplomacy on the principle 'major powers are the key, periphery is the first priority, developing countries are the foundation, multilateralism is an important platform'. Units 3 to 5 each focus on a key area in Chinese international relations. Not surprisingly, we begin with major power relations.

In Unit 3, Parts 1 and 2 provide a comparative overview of Western and Chinese perspectives on China's rise, major power relations and international change. Part 3 discusses the history of, and contemporary issues in, Sino-American relations. Part 4 looks at China's relations with the European Union, Russia and India. We examine the key variables in these relations and engage relevant concepts, theories and debates in relation to China's comprehensive national power, Beijing's intentions and great power rivalry.

Learning objectives

Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:

• explain the significance of major power relations for Chinese national interests and world order;
• identify and describe the key variables in China's major power relations;
• explain and compare Western and Chinese perspectives on power, major power relations and the international system;
• discuss and compare China's bilateral relations with the United States, the European Union, Russia and India; and
• discuss relevant concepts, theories and debates in relation to China's comprehensive national power, Beijing's intentions and great power rivalry.

Unit 4 — China and East Asia

The rise of China and its implications to East Asia order is a contentious topic in International Relations (IR). In this unit, we investigate China's strategic interactions with other East Asian countries. We aim to demonstrate that East Asian international politics entails a contradictory process which features economic dynamism on the one hand, and security tension on the other. We therefore would like to invite you to think about how to situate China in the complex reality of East Asian politics. Part 1 revisits the concept of international order. It also defines what is meant by East Asia. Meanwhile, Parts 2, 3 and 4 are three distinct 'country profiles' that delineate Chinese engagement with its regional counterparts.

Learning objectives

Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:

• define what East Asia is, and explain why the region is significant to the study of international order;
• identify political, security and economic issues in China's relations with East Asia;
• analyse China's changing behaviours to its regional counterparts with respect to political transformation of East Asia;
• discuss how the presence of the United States complicates China's engagement with the region; and
• evaluate how far China can promote regional peace and prosperity.

Unit 5 — China's evolving role in global and regional governance

In the context of the question of China's global ascendency, IR scholars engage in a lively debate over whether China is a contestant of liberal institutional order. In this unit, we probe into China's engagement with international organisations at both global and regional levels. We also examine the motivations behind China's creation of new regional institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the BRICS New Development Bank (BRICS NDB). In addition, we revisit the Belt-and-Road Initiative and its implications for global governance. This unit comprises five sections. The first defines the terms of global governance, international organisations and the liberal institutional order. The second section discusses China's engagement with international organisations at the global level, while the third explores China's evolving role in East Asian governance. Section 4 centres on the Belt and Road Initiative. We also evaluate whether it serves as a Chinese alternative to the extant liberal governance model. Finally, this unit's fifth section asks the most crucial question for researchers of Chinese international relations: Can China lead? In this section, we provide various angles and cases to evaluate whether China is a responsible power, and to assess whether China is developing its own worldview. We also cover the issue of credibility of Chinese leadership, i.e. to what extent is China a credible leader in world affairs?

Learning objectives

Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:

• define international organisations, the liberal institutional order and global governance;
• assess whether China is a status quo, reformist, or revisionist power in relation to Beijing's changing attitude and behaviours towards global and regional governance since the global financial crisis;
• discuss the significance and implications of China's institution- building initiatives — i.e. the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, BRICS New Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank — for the institutional order;
• evaluate China's Belt and Road Initiative and its implications for global governance;
• discuss China's vision of world order, its continuity and change from Chinese historical worldview, and its implications for Chinese international relations; and
• assess whether or not China is capable of exercising leadership in global and regional governance.

Printed materials

Given the wide coverage for this course, it has not been possible to locate a single suitable textbook. Appropriate readings will therefore be provided with each unit of the course. Copyright conventions will apply to, and be adhered to, in this process.

Non-print media

While we should always be careful in the use of online resources, digitisation provides unprecedented access to official documents, think tank reports, and newspaper articles. These materials can provide valuable insight into Western and Chinese debates on the rising power's international relations. Appropriate WWW addresses will be given to you in the text, even though these will for the most part be advisory rather than required reading. Where it is felt particularly important, for illustration or other learning purposes, hard copies will be provided.

Assignment File

Assignment details for this course are contained in your Assignment File. The nature of these assignments is described in the 'Assignments' section of this Course Guide. You are required to complete your assignments and submit them via the Online Learning Environment (OLE) in accordance with the timetable provided in the Presentation Schedule on the OLE.

Presentation Schedule

The Presentation Schedule is available on the OLE. It gives the dates for completing assignments, and attending tutorials, and so on.

You should pay particular attention to this Course Guide and all instructions in the study units. You should attend all your tutorials, where you will meet your tutor and fellow learners.

Study units

Please read the study units carefully as they guide your learning and tell you how to approach any assignment related to the unit. Otherwise, you may miss important information. You must read both the study units and the textbook — they are not alternatives. Moreover, you should also read articles in newspapers and journals, and other books related to the course topics. The more widely you read, the better will be your appreciation and understanding of the course.

Each unit is divided into a number of sections. The first section provides the objectives of the unit, and introduces the materials to be covered. The next section constitutes the contents of the unit. This section will guide your learning and direct you to complete the self-tests. The final section contains a summary of the unit and the answers to the self-tests.

Non-assessed self-tests

You will come across non-assessed self-tests in each of the study units. These are designed to help you remember and apply what you have learnt and to prepare for your assignments and the examination. The self-tests provide you with immediate feedback on your understanding of subject matter just learnt. By answering the self-test questions and referring to the suggested answers (included at the end of every unit), you can check your progress accordingly. You should attempt all questions before referring to the answers.

Checking understanding

While you are studying each unit, please keep in mind the unit's objectives. After you have finished the unit, please check whether you have achieved the set objectives. If you encounter any problems, please make notes and raise these with your tutor as soon as possible.

The formal assessment requirements of the course include three assignments (all three of which will be counted), and one final examination. Assignments serve as continuous assessment within the study period, and contribute 50% of the total course mark. The other 50% is evaluated through the final examination. In order to achieve a pass on the course, you are required to have received an average mark of at least 40% on the assignments and a mark of at least 40% on the final examination.

The assessment items are outlined in the following table.

Assignments

The assignments for this course serve as the continuous assessment component within the study period. There are three assignments that cover the major themes and focuses covered in the study units. You are advised to study the units, including the activities and self-tests, before attempting the questions in the assignments. More specific instructions will be found in the Assignment File.

You are required to finish all three assignments for tutors to grade. Assignments, after being marked by your assigned tutor, are returned to you so that you can be aware of your mistakes and clarify any misunderstandings. In addition, you can also widen your perspectives through your tutor's feedback.

How to submit your assignments

For each assignment, please read through the question and the instructions that accompany the question in the Assignment File. Please read the question carefully and make sure you understand what is required before attempting to answer.

Once you have completed each assignment, you must submit it via the OLE. Please ensure you do this on or before the deadline. However, if you cannot finish your assignment on time, you must contact your tutor before the deadline to discuss the possibility of an extension. Your tutor may grant you an extension of up to seven days. If more time is needed, you must obtain approval from the Course Coordinator or the Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences. No mark will be awarded for any late assignment without prior approval obtained from the Course Coordinator or the Dean.

Assignments will not be marked after the deadline for the final assignment, unless prior approval has been obtained for submitting them late.

If your assignments call on you to write a 'research type' paper, you must be careful when you are using other references in your research. If you commit plagiarism, you will be penalised severely. Plagiarism is the theft of somebody else's work or ideas. This applies just as much to using work of other students as it does to authors of books. However, you may include parenthetical references to the works you cite e.g. (Lee 2022, 138). If you make such references, you should include a section at the end of your assignment called 'References' where the full name, title, date and place of the publications appear. The way to cite a reference is:

Lee, W (2022) Principles and Laws in World Politics: Classical Chinese Perspectives on Global Conflict, World Scientific Publishing.

Note that the table in the 'Course overview' section, shown earlier in this Course Guide, gives you an indication when your assignments are due, but for actual dates please check your Presentation Schedule and the Assignment File.

For further information about the procedures for submitting assignments via the OLE, please see the item 'General Information' under 'Assignments' on the OLE.

Assignment submission extension policy

The assignment policy of the University as stated in the Student Handbook should be observed. You are required to submit assignments for this course in accordance with the dates communicated by your Course Coordinator. You may apply for a submission extension on the grounds of illness, accident, disability, bereavement, or other compassionate circumstances.

Applications for extensions of up to seven days should be submitted to the tutor. The tutor shall consider valid and unexpected emergencies on an individual basis. Normally, documented proof of the extenuating circumstances is not required for extensions of up to seven days. The tutor shall decide and advise you of the revised date for submission.

For extensions of over seven days, you should note the following:

1. If you require an extension of more than seven days on the grounds of illness, accident, disability, bereavement or other compassionate circumstances, you are required to submit your application to the Course Coordinator via the OLE.
2. Supporting documents must be submitted along with the application for extension of over seven days to justify the claim.
3. Applications for extension should normally be lodged before or on the due
4. Applications are considered by:
   • the Course Coordinator for extensions of 8 to 21 days; and
   • the Dean for extensions of over 21 days.

After an assignment is submitted via the OLE, it is your responsibility to check that the assignment has been successfully submitted. Extension applications due to any problem with uploading will not be accepted. The University cannot accept any responsibility for assignments that are not received by your tutor due to any problem with submission via the OLE. As a precaution, you are advised to keep a copy of each assignment you submit.

According to the University's policy, no extension of the due date will be allowed for the final assignment. This policy will be strictly enforced. Any late submission of the final assignment will result in the score of the assignment being adjusted to zero.

Examination

There will be three-hour, closed-book written examination at the end of the course. The examination aims to assess your understanding of all areas of study covered in the course. You are expected to answer questions from limited choices. Each question carries the same weight in the examination paper. The total score of the examination paper is 50% of the total course mark.

Tutorials

There will be five two-hour, face-to-face tutorials provided for students of GCST A216. Tutors conduct tutorial sessions with a group of students over the course presentation as per the tutorial schedule. At these sessions, key course concepts are reviewed and reinforced; group and individual exercises are conducted; topical issues are discussed; individual student questions are answered; and assistance to assignments may also be provided.

Tutorials are not compulsory, but you are strongly recommended to attend all of them. Face-to-face discussion with other people on your ideas is an important part of the learning process. You want to see what other learners think about the problems raised in this course and also what they think of your opinions. Not least, a well-attended tutorial can give you a sense of community. You will see that you are not alone in finding some parts of the course difficult. Tutorials give you the chance to learn from your friends.

Tutors are required to start tutorial sessions on time. If a tutor fails to turn up 30 minutes after the scheduled starting time, you may assume that the session is cancelled, and you should report the case to the Course Coordinator so that a make-up session can be arranged.

Supplementary lectures

In addition, there are two two-hour supplementary lectures. Guest lecturers or the tutor will be invited to speak on topics relating to the course. You will be given the opportunity to ask questions relating to lecture topics during these sessions.

Assignment marking, phone and online consultation

Tutors also make themselves available for weekly telephone and online contact at a time and phone number arranged with their tutor groups.

You are encouraged to put into practice the following strategy for working through the course:

1. Read this Course Guide carefully. Check the suggested study schedule and mark down important dates, such as the assignment due dates and tutorial dates. Try to keep up with the schedule and meet these important dates.
2. Start the first study unit. Read the introduction and objectives of the unit. The objectives indicate the main topics and expectations for the unit.
3. Work through the unit. The unit embodies a suggested sequence of study, but you can revise it to suit your own judgement and strategy.
4. Read the supplementary readings whenever the unit suggests you do so.
5. Attempt the exercises at the end of each section, and then check the answers given at the end of the unit, and read the discussions of the exercises.
6. Review the objectives for the unit to confirm that you have achieved them. Review the study materials and/or talk to your tutor if you are not sure that you have met the expectations.
7. Turn to your Assignment File and complete the assignment according to the instructions in the unit. Submit your work no later than the due date.
8. After you have turned in your assignment, do not wait. Start working on the next unit. Note that only in this way can you keep on schedule.
9. After your assignment has been marked and returned to you, read through it and pay particular attention to your tutor's comments and queries. Clarify any doubts immediately by phoning or emailing your tutor.
10. After completing the last unit, review the whole course and prepare yourself for the final examination. Check again that you have met the course objectives and unit objectives.

You need to be regular in your study, because only in this way can you keep what you have learnt fresh in your mind, and keep on schedule. Note that time is tight, but that time is in your own hands! You also need to be active in thinking, and always ask 'Why?' The exercises in the units will stimulate your thinking, but you also need to challenge yourself to further your understanding of the logic underneath the study materials.

This course has been designed to introduce you to the basic concepts, ideas and theories in general international relations, as well as Chinese foreign relations since the beginning of the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. It is a political science course in historical perspective. Much of the discussion will be based on the diplomatic and political history of China in the post-World War II era, the Cold War era, and the post-Cold War era. Nevertheless, in order to understand today's complicated issues faced by China and its neighbours and counterparts, we must study the origins of them — many were found in the earlier periods of the 19th century and before.

As China is continuously rising and having greater impact on the globe, understanding China's perspectives and approaches to the world is crucial in our understanding of the current (and future) world affairs. On the other hand, to know how the world looks at China sheds light on our knowledge of China and Chinese international relations.

We wish you every success!