Paridhi Jain

20165066

BOOK REVIEW

China’s New Foreign Policy: Military Modernism, Multilateralism and the ‘China

Threat’

by Tilman Pradt

This book by Tilman Pradt is based on his research study - a qualitative analysis of

China’s foreign policies at present, in relation to its military advancements and its multilateral

approaches. In his book, Tilman states in detail that China’s successful access to international

organizations such as International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Trade Organization

(WTO) has expanded its relations globally, benefitting its economy and reputation.

Furthermore, he mentions how future developments of the global system can only be

maintained if China’s cooperates globally, given its population and its growing political and

military base. Hence, China is transforming its image from a ‘country threatening its

neighbours’ to ‘a country that is cooperating with its neighbours’.

Discussions about the ‘China threat’ started in the USA after the Tian’anmen Incident

and the Taiwan Strait Crisis. These discussions built further because of China’s growing

military capabilities and its behavior towards its neighbours in the period of early 1990s. This

became worse because of two things. First was China’s vision to change the global order to a

multipolar system from a hegemonic US centered system. Second was China’s alliance with

Russia, North Korea and Myanmar. Tilman further mentions about the analysis of policy

experts who predicted a rising rivalry between China and the US which could lead to wars

between the two powers.

 Elaborating further on the theory of ‘China threat’, Pradt talks about the threatening

moves on China’s part during the years of 1990-2015. China’s threatening moves towards

Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and in some respects, Indonesia resulted in its

image of an “aggressive country”. Chinese actions in the South China Sea like the ‘occupation

of Mischief Reef’ and the construction of several outposts in the Spratly Islands raised concerns

in the important claimants (Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei) to these islands.

Later in his book, Tilman mentions that China’s image improved when it joined the

US-led war against the 9/11 attack. The author mentions that under the leadership of President

Bush, the perception of China changed from an enemy to a partner. Relations between China

and the US improved, economic relations developed and the communication between the

policy makers of Washington and Beijing improved substantially.

In the second part of his book, Tilman analyses China’s approach towards ASEAN in

the 1990s and its involvement in the ASEAN-led initiatives. China’s foreign policies changes

when it opened up to international regimes like the arms-control regimes. He elaborated upon

how China sought membership of regimes it had ignored earlier. Furthermore, China signed

the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, a treaty that was designed to prevent the proliferation

and the armament of states with nuclear weapons. Nuclear Non-Proliferation is globally

accepted (India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea are exceptions to this).

China’s participation in formulating the terms of the Chemical Weapons Convention

(CWC) was the time it contributed to an active international arms regime. This regime aimed

at banning the use of chemical weapons and destroy the existing ones. China participated in
this process from the very beginning and contributed in the process till its end in 1992. In 1993,

China became a part of a Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). This banned all

nuclear explosions for military purposes as well as for other civilian purposes. Furthermore,

China and the USA remain the only permanent members of the United Nations Security

Council (UNSC). This treaty has not been ratified yet.

According to Tilman, while China’s foreign policy on political and security issues has

not seen major changes since the early 1990s, its foreign policy on its economic relations with

ASEAN has seen a major shift. Tilman also notes that China’s foreign policy is led by its geo-

political goals which are seen to be fulfilled by its economic and business initiatives.

At the end of the book, Tilman explains the features of China’s new foreign policy

which is characterised by money politics, military diplomacy and a new assertiveness in its

relations internationally. China’s new foreign policy seems to be revolving around the

enhancement of its military power along with building multilateral cooperation. Furthermore,

it focuses on how China is willing to use its investment power and financial capabilities to

provide support and build diplomatic relations with the strategically relevant states. China is

also willing to supply weapon systems and form joint anti-terror organisations with these states.

Lastly, the book explains China’s new initiatives such as the creation of the Asian

Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Along with this, China became an active member in

the ASEAN-led organisations such as the Indonesian workshop series Managing Potential

Conflicts in the SCS during the 1990s.