Peaceful Rise of China: Theory, History, and Strategy

Author: Hu Zongshan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: Peaceful rise is a solemn commitment of China to the world, but is China's peaceful rise possible? Historically, it seems that great powers have never achieved a peaceful rise, and many great powers have launched anti-system wars after their rise. Can China avoid this historical cycle? Is peaceful rise theoretically possible? How to answer China's peaceful rise from the choices of history and reality? These all require effective answers from people. This book critically examines and reflects on various theories of great power rise through case studies of the rise of ancient and modern great powers, interpreting and answering the above questions from both theoretical and historical perspectives. The book argues that the realist doctrines of "power determines intentions" and "great powers will inevitably seek to change the status quo" have significant flaws and are insufficient to explain all historical great power rise phenomena. Historically, there are two main paths for great power rise: the peaceful path, driven primarily by internal economic growth, institutional and technological innovation, and the violent path, driven primarily by military expansion, resource plunder, and hegemonic competition. The experience of modern great powers shows that great powers can achieve rise through peaceful means, and even among those that rise through violence, there are very important non-violent factors. At the same time, great power rise does not necessarily lead to a revisionist state that seeks to overthrow the existing system or launch wars. Historical experience shows that even after gaining strong power, a country may seek to treat the existing international system gently, depending on how the country correctly handles its relationship with the international system. Therefore, even in the modern international relations known as power politics, not all countries rise through war, and great powers do not necessarily engage in military hegemonic competition after their rise—there is a historical fact of peaceful rise. Even according to the realist theory of the unchanging cycle of international politics, China's peaceful rise in the 21st century is possible. Historical and realistic evidence of China's foreign behavior shows that China has always been a peace-loving country, not seeking hegemony or world leadership, nor a so-called anti-system movementist. China's future peaceful rise and maintaining world peace after its rise are entirely possible. At the same time, to truly achieve a peaceful rise, China must learn from the experiences and lessons of historical great power rise, formulate correct rise-maintenance and response strategies, and ensure the smooth realization of China's peaceful rise. Among these, it is particularly important to address three issues: first, finding a path for sustained national strength growth led by China to avoid being controlled by others, which requires accelerating technological innovation, establishing a scientific development concept, building a resource-saving society, and avoiding conflicts over energy, resources, and markets; second, properly managing relations with the existing hegemon, the United States, treating the existing international order kindly, and peacefully integrating into the existing international system; third, making the greatest efforts and sincerity to resolve issues of national territorial integrity and unity, but not hesitating to use force when necessary to safeguard core national interests and promote the country's rise while maintaining the achievements of its rise.