Shambaugh/Robinson precis finished -- finally!

After nearly six weeks, I finally got through all 600-odd pages of Thomas Robinson's and David Shambaugh's (eds.) Chinese Foreign Policy: Theory and Practice (Oxford University Press, 1994). Normally it wouldn't take me so long to read a book, but I was also writing a very detailed precis that totals 23 pages of 12 pt. Arial type -- all the while holding down a full-time job and helping my wife raise two little kids. Most of the reading and precis writing took place after 8 pm, when the kids were in bed.

Although I have read several books, articles, and dissertations that deal with specific issues or areas involving Chinese foreign policy (Sino-Viet relations, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, etc.) this is the first book that gets into international relations theory and its impact on Chinese foreign policy from the 1950s through the early 1990s. Naturally, superpower politics figures quite prominently, while other issues -- ranging from territorial disputes, large-scale internal migration, and of course the Internet -- are hardly mentioned at all.

Mass media and propaganda are also neglected, although the editors mention in the appendix the importance of the “Three Bibles” of translated sources used by researchers: Foreign Broadcast Information Service Daily Report-China, The Joint Publications Service China Report, and the BBC’s Summary of World Broadcasts:

“These three daily translations mediums are invaluable for tracking newspaper and journal publications, as well as monitored radio and television broadcasts, from the PRC. No serious student or researcher can live without them, although it should be noted that these services actually pick up and translate a small portion – albeit an important sample – of the total pronouncements from the Chinese media and publications on international relations and security affairs.” [page 606]

Some other interesting quotes (keeping in mind that all were written more than 10 years ago, when China was a very different place):

Steven Levine, on the impact of history on China's foreign policy:

“Chinese leaders tend to internalize a sense of historical resentment at the raw deal which history has given them. This resentment often translates into a claim of entitlement upon others. When other states behave toward China in accordance with their supposed obligations, everything is fine. But when these claims are not recognized, or are recognized only partially, additional layers of Chinese resentment may build up. This hypersensitivity is manifested with respect to symbolic and status issues no less than to substantive issues of resource allocations and power.” [p. 44]

Carol Lee Hamrin, on the tight control over foreign policy by a handful of party elders and central government departments:

“The process of foreign policy and national security information processing, deliberation, and decision making and the management of foreign relations has been highly centralized and compartmented from other functional areas for most of the post-1949 era. Control over foreign ties is highly important to regime sustenance.” [p. 80]

Harold Hinton, on China as a regional power:

“There is no realistic possibility that China will achieve a position of dominance in the region. Accordingly Beijing does not appear to count such a mythological condition among its serious foreign policy objectives.” [p. 349]

However, Hinton later says:

“… Beijing would probably like ideally to have East Asia, or more realistically SE Asia, as its exclusive sphere of influence, a modern equivalent of the traditional tributary system, which institutionalized to a degree China’s sense of superiority over its neighbors.” [p. 359]

Harry Harding, on the nature of PRC support for Third World insurgencies in past decades:

“China’s distance from its clients has also reflected its deep-rooted desire to avoid entangling international commitments to clients as well as to benefactors. China can be effusive in its rhetorical and symbolic support and generous with its economic and military assistance, but does not wish to assume binding obligations to provide continuing military aid to its clients, or even to consult with them in advance when considering changes in its own foreign policies.” [p. 391]

Wang Jisi on the Chinese perspective of international relations theory:

“In the Chinese context, a theory is not much different from a doctrine, an ideology, or a set of propositions serving as a guiding principle for action. ... Theories without immediate relevance to policy making or implementation are often refered to as empty and useless” [p. 483]

“Chinese theoretical notions are often connected with such metaphors as the Paper Tiger, the East Wind and West Wind, the Hundred Flowers, Walking on Two Legs, the Spiritual Atom Bomb, and so forth. In Chinese political and cultural tradition, simple generalization is much better respected that abstract sophistication.” [p. 491]

Chinese Foreign Policy: Theory and Practice and the many viewpoints contained within, provides much food for thought, as I begin my thesis proposal. The book is available in university libraries, as well as online.