Asia's New Security and China

By Professor Xia Liping

Dean of Political and International Relations,Tongji University

Since the end of the cold war,China puts forward a series of new national security ideas with Chinese characteristics such as the"new security concept"and the goal of"building a harmonious world".In May 2014 at the Fourth Summit of Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia(CICA Summit)held in Shanghai,Chinese President Xi Jinping explicitly put forward the Asian new security concept featured by"common,comprehensive,cooperation,and sustainability".The CICA Summit in Shanghai is the Summit with the largest number of heads of state and government,and the largest gathering in the history of the CICA Summit,which greatly promoted the development of"the Asian new security concept".

In the 1950s,China together with India and Burma put forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.This is consistent with the trend of the world,and the security concept with Asian features.In the 1990s,China appealed to various countries to establish a new security concept centered on mutual trust,mutual benefit,equality,and coordination.As the situation changes,China calls on regional countries to establish the Asian new security concept,and advocates common security,comprehensive security,cooperative security and sustainable security,which reflects further deepening of China’s security concept.Conforming to the world historical trend,China advances an important new concept in international security.The new security concept is contradictory to the cold war thinking,and will display its strong vitality in the course of gradual triumph over the cold war mentality and power politics theory.The new security concept is composition of the important thought of"Three Represents"and"building a harmonious world"thought,and will also be the security guarantee for China’s peaceful rise.Currently in the world,the traditional security concept and the cold war thinking are still very strong in Asia,only they are overcome by the new security concept can the peaceful rise of China be ensured.

China is the only permanent member of the UN Security Council representing Asia,has the responsibility to put forward views on the common security,comprehensive security,cooperative security and sustainable security in Asia,and works with various countries in coordination and collaboration to promote the security concept based on consensus.China together with Asian countries jointly promote regional security.

From the 1999"CICA Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Members Relationship",to 2002"Almaty Documents",the CICA organization is emerging as a universal organization for security and cooperation in pan-Eurasian continents.CICA members cover over 90%of Eurasia territory,and account for 50%of the global population.It is conceived in Central Asia,and geo-political strategists call it the"World Heart",and grow to become a political dialogue and common security organization to cover whole Asia.The convening of the Shanghai CICA Summit indicates that CICA has completed the initial stage,and is expected to become a continental security cooperation organization.

"The Asian new security concept"is a continuation and development of the"Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence"jointly proposed in the 1950s by China and India,etc.whose core is China’s"peace culture".And China’s"peace culture",in short,is the world outlook on the integrated man and nature,international outlook on keeping harmony with neighbors,social values on harmony with differences,and moral values on people’s kindness,which are cornerstones of building up the"Asian new security concept".China,as CICA summit host,should grasp the opportunity to promote"the Asian new security concept"to benefit Asia and shape the Asia's bright future.

Part One,Maintaining Security Needs New Ideas In the New Era

During the cold war,the two superpowers the United States and the Soviet Union maintained long-term military confrontation and fierce arms race for world hegemony.As one of the serious consequences,large nuclear arsenals the United States and the Soviet Union developed are even enough to destroy mankind several times,and become“the sword of Damocles"suspended over people's head in the world,endanger human life and safety.Adapted to this situation,in the field of international security,especially the two superpowers formed a complete set of cold war thinking,which is theoretically based on geopolitics,the balance of power strategy,"zero-sum"game,anti-communist ideology,etc.

After the cold war,the international situation has undergone profound changes.Peace and development have become the main themes of our times.To maintain peace and promote development are the common aspirations of the people of all countries,and also the irresistible historical trend.The developing trend of world multi-polarization and economic globalization brings opportunities and favorable conditions for world peace and development.In this case,it is necessary for the international community to abandon the outdated cold war thinking,and to accept new ideas in the field of international security.

In recent years,targeted at the existential mentality of cold war and power politics,China,in the spirit of keeping with the times,holds that maintaining security needs a new security concept,has advocated to establish a new security concept with"mutual trust,mutual benefit,equality,and coordination"and"common,comprehensive,cooperation,sustainability"as the core,and pushed for enhancing mutual trust through dialogue and promoted common security through cooperation.This new security concept is the development of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence,and should become the theoretical basis for constructing the 21stCentury Asian new-type security framework.

First of all,common,means to respect and protect national security of every country.Security should be universal,equal,and inclusive.There is no way for one country to enjoy security while the rest not,or some countries to enjoy security while the rest not,and neither for some countries to seek their own absolute security at the sacrifice of others security.Adhere to basic norms governing international relations such as respect to sovereignty,independence and territorial integrity,non-interference in each other's internal affairs,etc.,respect to social system and path of development chosen independently by all countries,and respecting and caring for the reasonable security concerns of all parties.

Secondly,comprehensive,means to co-ordinate the maintenance of security in traditional and non-traditional areas,the overall consideration of historical issues and realistic condition of Asian security,coordinate to promote regional security governance with a multi pronged and comprehensive measures.On the"three forces",a zero tolerance attitude must be adopted to strengthen international and regional cooperation,and increase combating strength.

Thirdly,cooperation,means through dialogue and cooperation topromote the national security and the regional security,to enhance strategic mutual trust,to seek peace through cooperation and promote security through cooperation,and to solve disputes by peaceful means.The Asian people have the ability and wisdom to achieve peace and stability in Asia by strengthening cooperation.Welcome to all sides to play a positive and constructive role in Asian security and cooperation

Fourthly,sustainable,means to achieve lasting securityby equal emphasis on both development and security.Focus on the theme of development,and actively improve people's livelihood,narrow the gap between rich and poor,and constantly consolidate the security foundation.Promote common development and regional integration process,promote sustainable security based on sustainable development.

Since the end of the cold war,with the developing trend of world multi-polarization and economic globalization,there are efforts of a number of countries to implement new security concepts in their international relations,for example,in multi-lateral international relations,which have positive changes in favor of the new security concepts.

(a)The new security concept develops in struggle with the cold war thinking.

The new security concept is an important composition of the new concept of diplomatic strategy with Chinese characteristics.It is a product of the break with the cold war thinking,and develops in the course of collision with the cold war mentality and power politics.

Different with the policy of parity to counter the Soviet Union globally by seeking China’s support during the cold war,America's current strategy is a focus on preventing the emergence of a potential threat in Eurasia to challenge U.S.leadership,and therefore takes itself as a strength to play a"unique and final balancer role"in some important areas of the world.Some American scholars commend the 18thto 19thCentury UK as an example,hold that"UK was always a strength for European balance in the last two centuries,and always joined the weaker alliance against the more powerful alliance in order to create a balance of power."They even advocate supporting the smaller countries(and regions)around China(from South Korea to Taiwan,even to Vietnam)to offset China's strength advantages.

To act upon the cold war thinking and new power politics theory,the interactive mode among all parties is basically"zero-sum"model in international relations,i.e.one side profits while the other side looses,or two sides get closed while the third side interests get damaged.But in the new situation of peace and development becoming main themes of the times,this"zero-sum"model will become increasingly unworkable.

In reality,there are both many common interests and many contradictions between major powers,so it is most likely to form a relationship of both cooperation and competition.If China and the United States can deal with their relationship with the new security concept,they can build constructive and cooperative relations.If all countries in the world can deal with their relationships with the new security concepts,they will be able to create peace-and development-dominated world.

Even in Europe where the modern geo-parity policy is popular,some new security relationship interaction models,such as the international mechanism,geo-economics,win-win cooperation,etc.have in recent years taken shape.This shows that the cold war mentality is on gradual eclipse and new security ideas play a bigger role,which is the inevitable trend of history although very long time is needed.

(b)The new security concept should become one of the basic norms of international relations

The new security concept is a new concept adapted to the new era,with a new form and new content.The current international system is in transition from an anarchy state of the international balance of power system to a new international system with interdependence as the main feature,which would prompt countries to adjust their diplomatic strategies in order to adapt to this change.

In recent years,changes have taken place internationally and witness a series of important events with profound impacts,which strongly lash at the current international order and change the international pattern.The connotation and extension of security continuously expands.The uncertain factors impacting world peace and development are on the increase,the traditional and non-traditional security threats are intertwined,not only the traditional security problems such as armed conflicts triggered by territory,resources and ethnic contradictions and other issues still exist,and other non-traditional security issues such as terrorism,international crime,drug trafficking,environmental pollution,etc.have become increasingly prominent.How to respond to these challenges,safeguard world peace,promote common development,and create stable and harmonious home for people all over the world are major issues for us to carefully think about and solve.Common security interests for all are on the rise,multilateral cooperation becomes the indispensible route to take,and concepts and methods to maintain security need to update.

In today's world where there still exists power politics,and the cold war thinking is still very strong,the new security concept should be made one of the new basic norms of international relations based on further enrichment and development of the new security concept,and should explore a new approach for struggles with power politics and the cold war thinking.

On security,various countries should strengthen mutual trust,enhance cooperation,and maintain peace.China,in 1996 in line with the trend of the times and the Asia-Pacific regional characteristics,took the lead in proposing to work together to foster a new security concept,and then put forward clearly the core of the new security concept to be mutual trust,mutual benefit,equality and coordination.Various Countries should strive to resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue and cooperation.China advocates democratization of international relations,and world matters should be equally consulted by countries.They should adhere to multilateralism,and bring to full play the role of the UN and its Security Council in maintaining international peace and security.China,based on the new security concept,actively promotes the establishment and development of Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO),and has accession to the"World Trade Organization"(WTO).These show that China is in the leading position in adapting to the changing times.

China implements the principle of"maintaining friendship and partnership with neighbors",with"bringing harmony,security and prosperity to neighbors"as diplomatic ideas in the periphery regions,and with"peace,security,cooperation and prosperity"as its Asian policy goals,actively promotes neighborly relations and regional cooperation.

China’s security goal in the Asian-Pacific region is to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and maintain regional peace and stability and promote regional security dialogue and cooperation.Currently,China’s understanding of regional security is deepening,China's security concept becomes more open,and security policy more transparent,and participation in security cooperation more extensive.China believes that the comprehensive security is the basic guarantee for the current security,cooperative security is an effective way to maintain international security,and common security is the ultimate goal of safeguarding East Asian security1.

Now,Asia-Pacific countries are committed to economic development and social stability,and to deepening mutually beneficial cooperation,whose consciousness to seek common security and development is on the rise.The common interests between the major powers are greater than their differences,and their coordination and cooperation gradually enhance.To maintain stability and promote cooperation are the mainstream of the situation in the Asia-Pacific region.This is inseparable from joint efforts by China and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region to practice the new security concept.

China's development is inseparable from peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region,and an organic part of prosperity and progress in the region.It is necessary for China to unswervingly carry out neighborly diplomatic thoughts of"maintaining friendship and partnership with neighbors",and work together with Asia-Pacific countries to create a healthy and stable regional security environment,and make greater contribution to peace and development in the region.

Generally speaking,guide China's diplomacy and diplomatic strategy by the new security concept of mutual trust,mutual benefit,equality and coordination,and strive to achieve the comprehensive security,cooperative security and common security.Make vigorous efforts to explore ways to uphold the new security concept,and replace the cold war thinking with a new security concept.Only by doing so,can the peaceful rise of China be guaranteed,so that China's international strategy can be better facilitated to serve to"create a long-term stable,secure and reliable international peaceful environment".

(c)Anew development of Chinese security concepts

Since the end of the cold war,China,according to the new international situation,the national interests and the pursuit of peace and development by peoples all over the world,has significantly changed its security concept.China holds that to obtain lasting peace,the cold war mentality must be abandoned,a new-type security concept be cultivated,and a new way to safeguard peace be explored,and emphasis on military security turned to comprehensive security.During the cold war,facing one or two superpowers military threats,China had to focus on military security.After the end of the cold war,China believes that though the geopolitical and ideological factors cannot be ignored,and“military factors still occupies an important position in the national security",while"economic security in the national security is increasingly highlighted"2.Meanwhile,the traditional and non-traditional security threats are intertwined,the danger of terrorism is on the rise.Therefore,China now emphasizes that all governments should have mutual coordination to jointly respond to the challenges.

Secondly,during the cold war era,the concept of"zero-sum game"played the most important role in the international politics.After the end of the cold war,China accepts"mutual security"concept.Therefore,China opposes any country to establish its own absolute security based on insecurity of other countries,and she won't do that.

Thirdly,since the end of the cold war,China has always emphasized dialogue and cooperation,sought through peaceful means to resolve differences and disputes between nations.Meanwhile,China has gradually accepted the concept of multilateral security dialogue and cooperation.She takes an active part in regional security and sub-regional dialogue and cooperation and plays an important role.

Fourthly,in recent years,China is in the leading position in the aspect of confidence building measures in the Asia-Pacific region.Chinese traditional military thought had nothing on military transparency.But since the end of the cold war,China has gradually accepted the transparency concept.Especially when China feels more confident in its relations with other countries and international security environment,she is willing to take more initiatives and more active measures on arms control issues and increase transparency.She with Russia and several Central Asian countries have signed the agreement on confidence building measures and disarmament in the border areas.China and the United States and Japan have respectively signed the agreements on the establishment of"hotline".

Part Two,"The Asian New Security Concept"is a Theoretical Development for Realizing the Harmonious World

The harmonious world theory lays the foundation for"the Asian new security concept".Since nation-states emerge in the human society,accompanied by war and conflict,the dominated concept in international politics is the"the law of the jungle",and the"zero-sum"game rule of"one side benefit inevitably leading to a loss of the other side",etc.During the cold war era,too much emphasis is laid on ideology and values confrontations,and on the old concept of national political security and military security,and the cold war mentality of"either a friend or a foe"and containing geopolitical rivals were prevalent.

To establish a harmonious world,these old thinking and the cold war mentality must be completely abandoned,and a new set of concept adapted to a harmonious world be created.

The idea of"harmony"is one of the precious crystals of several thousand year-wisdom of the Chinese,which is a creation if it is applied to the field of international relations.As early as 2500 years B.C.,the Chinese began gradually forming the world outlook of"harmony between man and nature".Over 2000 years ago,Confucius,a pre-Qin dynasty thinker in China,proposed ideas of"keeping harmony without following blindly"and"precious harmony",etc..The Chinese people long,long ago emphasized the pursuit of harmony between man and nature,harmony among human relationships,harmony between body and mind,and long for an ideal society of"human friendship,equality and justice".China believes that a harmonious world should be a world of democracy,peace,justice and inclusiveness.

To apply"harmonious world"thought to the field of international strategy bears on far-reaching significance.First of all,it should be the main standard criterion to guide state to states relationships.Secondly,it should be the main standard criterion for dealing with relationships between different social systems,between different civilizations and between different cultures.Thirdly,it should be the main standard criterion to realize the relationship between human development and maintenance of earth environment.

In order to building a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity,and in order get adapted to a world of democracy,harmony,justice,and inclusiveness,all countries in the world should accept a new concept of the win-win cooperation.The concept should include the following main contents:

(a)Cooperation on the basis of recognition of diversity

"The foundation of the harmonious world"thought is"keeping harmony without following blindly"world outlook.The essence of Chinese traditional culture is attaching importance to and pursuing equilibrium and stability of matters."The Book of Rites,the Golden Mean"holds that only harmony is achieved,can heaven and earth be maintained,diversified things be cultivated.The humanistic spirit and value concept of Chinese traditional culture advocate"universal benevolence,and mutual benefit",i.e.to handle inter-persons relations and inter-states relations with mutual love and mutual benefit principles.

Chinese traditional culture emphasizes the thinking of"rites for usage,and harmony always being precious",and requires various actors to take proper measures,mutual coordination,mutual interaction,and focus on the harmonious unity.This kind of"keeping harmony without following blindly"thinking actually expresses the dialectical unity of the diversified world,i.e.,to achieve peace,harmony and cooperation on the basis of diversity.

Between countries,between regions,and between ethnic groups,it is normal but also possibly inevitable to exist some diversities and differences.All civilizations,different social systems and paths of development in the world should mutually respect,mutually exchange and mutually learn from each other,learn from each other to make up deficiencies in peace competition,and achieve common development in seeking common ground while reserving differences.

(b)Cooperation on the basis of equality and democracy

The Chinese"harmonious world"thought is based on equality,and mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity among states,be they big or small.Because of diversity of the world,the international relationship democratization and development models diversification should be promoted.The national affairs should be determined by its own people,while world affairs should be determined by all countries with equal consultations,on which cooperation is based.

(c)Seeking win-win results on the basis of mutual coordination and mutual cooperation

The Chinese philosophy always advocates coexistence,common sharing,and win-win results."A sea can take many rivers water while the grandeur lies in its capacity'.""Guanzi–the Art of War"says that with harmony and unity,actions can be coordinated,then coordinated efforts can be achieved.These"harmony and unity"are principled,and keeping harmony and unity with other people does not mean associating with an evil and rifting with it.Along with growing economic interdependence and facing more and more transnational security problems between countries,there is increasingly a need for them to coordinate policy more,and to respond to various new security challenges through cooperation.

China should try vigorously to obtain the approval and the consensus of its people throughout the country on the Asian new security concept,the"harmonious world"thought and the new idea of win-win cooperation,and further capture the world's collective identity in their practice,thus shaping corresponding international mechanisms and institutions.Meanwhile,China should try to apply its"harmonious world"thought and new ideas of win-win cooperation to the struggle against hegemonism and power politics,and reform those unjust and unreasonable factors in the existing international order.

Part Three,the Asian New Security Concept is a Major Statement of China's Peaceful Development

Since the contemporary era,China's position in international system has undergone great changes.Meanwhile,China's attitude on the international system has undergone a major transformation.The adopted Asia's new security concept and"building a harmonious world"thought provide a new perspective for the Chinese view on the international system.China is the current international system's supporter,defender and reformer.To achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the strategic task of the Chinese people in the 21stcentury,and is also one of the important part of constructing a harmonious world.The development of a country like China cannot be achieved overnight,and needs to solve many important problems in theory and practice.In order to achieve peaceful development,guided by Deng Xiaoping theory and the important thought of"building a harmonious world"and in the spirit of seeking truth from facts,keeping pace with the times,and pioneering innovations,a new set of international strategic concepts with Chinese characteristics must be gradually formed.

(a)The Asian new security concept is a new view at the international system.

Entering 19thcentury,the Western powers with strong gunboats broke and segmented the so-called China-led regional"tributary system"in East Asia,the contemporary international system with Europe at the core imposed on China the power politics and hegemonism.After the end of the Second World War,while China became one of the world's 5 winner countries,but could hardly play a role in the international affairs because of then its civil war and the weakness.From the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China to the 1970s,because the U.S.and others western containment and blockade,China was excluded from the international system,so it became a revolutionary and rebel against the international system.Since having adopted the reform and opening up,China has gradually integrated into the international economic system and the international security system.After accession into the World Trade Organization,China's integration in to the international system has further accelerated.

The existing international system does have many unfair,unreasonable,and imperfect aspects,but in general,is still beneficial to world peace and development,and advantages for the China outweigh the disadvantages.

In the era of peace and development as the main themes,the method of first destruction of the old and then of establishment of a new international political and economic order cannot be taken,but only having accessed into existing international political and economic order,can the unfair and unreasonable rules be gradually changed according to the fundamental interests of the people of the world and China,can transformation of the international system in a just and reasonable direction be promoted,and be gradually perfected.This will be one of the important part of building a harmonious world.

(b)The era with peace and development as the main themes provides the realistic conditions for realizing the Asian new security concept

The world with peace and development as the main themes of the times provides the fundamental prerequisite and possibility for materializing the Asian new security concept and the harmonious world-building.

The epoch outlook of peace and development as the main themes is the premise concept for China to follow the road of peaceful development.China’s taking the road of peaceful development is of great significance for the era,conforming to the trend of the times,conducive to safeguarding world peace,and promoting common development.

The era with peace and development as the main themes is the inevitable outcome of historical development.Reviewing the modern history of the world,We can see that only in the era with peace and development as the main themes,is the building of a harmonious world realistically possible.

Two events of far-reaching impact on world history took place in 17thcentury Europe.The first one is the outbreak of the 1640 bourgeois revolution of England,which facilitates the development of capitalist productivity to shake off the shackles of the old power.The second is the"Treaty of Westphalia"signed in 1648,which shapes the Westphalia System,establishes the main actors position of nation-states in modern international relations,and affirmed the state sovereignty principle in practice,so that the equality principle of state sovereignty has become the basic norm of international relations.This replaces the European medieval Pope in Rome as the center of the theocratic political system by the international community composed of independent nation-states with sovereign equality.But then the European countries only applied the principle of sovereign equality to the so-called"Christian civilized nations".While to the other civilized countries and nations,the European powers,unlike the ancient Chinese who had held"keeping harmony without following blindly"world outlook,on the contrary relied on the strong gunboats,and obtained rapid development of the capitalist productive forces,started in Asia,Africa,Latin America the world-wide ruthless conquest,and rampantly plundered and occupied colonies.It is through force and war that helps European powers’rise.Although modern European Kant,and the U.S.Wilson proposed a vision on establishing a human community,Chinese Kang Youwei,etc.proposed a view of Global Grad Harmony,but then there did not exist any possibility of realization.

To the end of 19thcentury and early 20thcentury,capitalism developed to the stage of imperialism.Across the world,colonies were all divided up.In order to capture the commodity market,raw material resources and investment locations,fierce rivals between imperialist powers resulted in the two world wars.The two world wars also triggered the proletarian revolution in some countries and the people's struggle for national liberation in vast number of colonial and semi-colonial countries.Therefore,during the first half of the 20thcentury,the main theme of the times was"war and revolution".In this period,the characteristics of rising major powers through force and war,or in attempt to do so,developed to the extreme.

To the end of the 1960s,the peoples in vast number of colonial and semi colonial countries attained national independence through struggles for national liberation.Meanwhile,the growing world peace strength outweighed the growing forces for war,so that a new world war can be avoided.These mark the basic conclusion of the"war and revolution era",and the main themes of the times saw shifting conversion.After the 1970s,the main themes of the times saw a transition to peace and development.To the end of the cold war,these main themes are fully established,and highlighted.In this era,the realistic possibility of constructing a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity for the first time emerges.China's peaceful rising is under the era background of peace and development as the main themes.

(C)The judgment by Chinese leaders on the main themes of the times is the premiseconcept for putting forward Asia new security concept.

Deng Xiaoping's expositions on the theme of the era is the starting point for understanding it.The era we refer to is the overall judgment of the global situation through Marxist observations.Peace as the main theme of the times refers to no world war.While fighting no world war is one of the most important factors for a more stable and peaceful international security environment needed by China's peaceful rise.The development as the main theme of the era refers to full development of all countries,be they big or small,rich or poor all over the world,and also to their comprehensive and coordinated development politically,economically,scientifically and technologically,socially and culturally.This development of China is its basis of peaceful rise,and China expects to achieve common development for all countries in the world.

As early as in the inception of 1980s,Comrade Deng Xiaoping had already begun reflecting on contemporary issues of world peace and development,and the mutual relations of these two major issues.After the mid-1980s,Comrade Deng Xiaoping put forward:"Regarding the general international situation,I believe that it is possible to strive for a longer-term peace,war can be avoided."In his view,the international community,while opposing hegemonism,threats of war and striving for peace in the world,must unswervingly focus on and solve the development problem.In March 1985,he pointed out:"Of the really big problems with global strategic significance in the world today,one is the issue of peace,and then the economic issue or development issues.”

After the end of the cold war,the world situation has changed profoundly,but hegemonism,power politics and unfair and irrational international economic order still exist.By sober-minded observations and reflections,Comrade Deng Xiaoping,in his 1992 southern tour remarks,emophasized:"These two major issues of peace and development in the world,neither has been solved.”

The Report to the 13thand 14thCPC National Congress,based on the judgments by Comrade Deng Xiaoping,summarized peace and development as the"main theme"and"two main themes"respectively"in the contemporary world".In September 1997,15thCPC National Congress also summarized clearly peace and development as"the main themes of the contemporary era".Compared with the"themes of the contemporary world""the themes of the contemporary era"shows further forward-looking,and takes into account the evolution of the basic contradictions of the era.In November 2012,the Report to the 18tCPC National Congress noted that the contemporary world is undergoing profound and complicated changes,peace and development remain the main themes of the times."To ensure a rather long peaceful international environment and a good surrounding environment can be achieved.These statements are prerequisite concepts for proposing Asia new security concept and attaining China's peaceful development.

(D)Adhering to and enriching the era outlook of peace and development as the main themes are the foundation of Asia new security concept.

Under the circumstances in the current world that peace and development are faced with the new situation and challenges respectively,we should further our understanding of"peace and development as the main themes of the times",seek unity in thinking,consolidate our faith,seize the opportunity to develop China.On the one hand,the views that"we are still in war and revolution era,China is contained,there must be a war"fail to note the essential changes of the era,exaggerate the threats faced by China,and is wrong.On the other hand,the idea that"it is O.K.with peace and development"fails to note the existing new challenges and is wrong as well.Peace and development are the trend of world development.China’s peaceful development road is decided by the era of peace and development as the main themes,and is also practiced in the context of this era.

Meanwhile,according to the changing international situation,connotation of the era outlook on peace and development and the Asian new security concept should be continuously enriched and adjusted.

Firstly,emancipate the mind,advance with the times,overcome ideological obstacles,and enrich and develop the era’s main themes.

Deng Xiaoping’s theory and the important thought of"building a harmonious world"is the starting point and theoretical foundation for us to understand the main themes of the times,meanwhile we should conform to the development trend of the times,and further promote connotation of the main themes of the times.Both the"left"and right wrong deviations should be overcome,particularly,the"left"tendencies.Concepts should be updated,opening up be improved and cooperation be enriched with new contents.Be cautious about propagating against"Westernization"and focus more on learning and absorbing the achievements of human civilization.In aspects of the concepts of sovereignty,human rights,and democracy,we should keep pace with the changing situation.

(1)The elevating common interests of mankind is an important feature of the era with peace and development as the main themes.We should comply with the historical trend,and safeguard the common interests of mankind.With joint efforts by the international community,we should actively promote world multi-polarization,promote a harmonious coexistence of diverse forces,maintain stability of the international community,and actively push forward globalization towards the direction developing in favor of realizing common prosperity,draw on the advantages and avoid disadvantages so that all countries,especially developing countries get benefited.

(2)Second,cooperative security is an important principle for the era with peace and development as the main themes.To maintain security needs new concepts.China has advanced the establishment of a new security concept with mutual trust,mutual benefit,equality and coordination as the core,and advocated enhancing mutual trust through dialogue,and promoting common security through cooperation.

(3)To maintain world diversity and promote democratization of international relations and diversification of development models is an important goal for the era with peace and development as the main themes.Only respect world diversity,various nations and civilizations can live in harmony,learn from each other,draw on each other strong points and complement each other.Different civilizations,different social systems,and paths of development in the world should respect each other,learn from each other in competition,seek common ground while reserving differences in common development.

Secondly,dialectically look at the existing international system,apply and improve the international system to promote peace and development.

The existing international system,certainly,has unreasonable and unfair aspects,but also has made great progress,and has some fair and reasonable aspects due to the efforts of vast number of developing countries.Peace and development advancement is not water without a source,and a tree without a root,but fertilized in the existing international system,and can only get developed in the changing international system.While China should get more integrated into the international system,should also learn to use the international system,and gradually transform the international system so as to advance peace and development.

For some developing matters with impacts on the international system,we should also dialectically view them.For example,non-governmental organizations and multi-national corporations have both favorable effects and unfavorable effects on world peace and development and China peaceful rise,an objective analysis must be given so as to make the best use of advantages,and prevent the disadvantages.

Thirdly,Proceed from the era themes of peace and development as the starting point,abandon the cold war mentality,transcend geopolitics,correctly understand China’s international interests

Peace and development as the objective development trend are independent of man’s subjective will,nor conform with China's national interests all-dimensionally and constantly,but in the long-run may be more beneficial to China.Therefore,the maintenance of peace and development is in line with China's international interests.Of interests of regional cooperation and common interests of mankind,some are consistent with China's national interests,and even become part of China's national interests.China should actively participate in peacekeeping activities by the United Nations and regional organizations,and actively promote the construction and reform of the international political and economic order,and actively participate in regional economic and security cooperation,promote the dissemination of new security concept,and gradually reach consensus in cooperative security and common security.World multi-polarization and democratization of international relations means that not only China could rise,other countries could too.Peacefully rising China should welcome other countries to rise peacefully.The rise of any country will have an impact on the international situation and the regional posture,China should become fully prepared,adjust policy continuously and grind out new collaboration with new balance.

Fourthly,continue to study new problems and shape more comprehensive and complete Asian new security concept

We are still in the course of drastically changing world.Continue to recognize new forces and new factors in promoting peace and development,constantly study new problems and uncertain factors impeding peace and development.Peace is a prerequisite for development,and development is the foundation for peace,the two of which generally promote each other.However,the relationship between the two is complex,and sometimes the opposite trend also emerges.This requires a more in-depth research,and gradual formation of a more comprehensive and more forward-looking era outlook.China's development is inseparable from the world.China's peaceful rise also needs to obtain world recognition.

The more China gets deeply involved in international economic mechanisms and international political mechanisms,the more she is ready to play a responsible role in the international community.

In general,China,as a responsible major country,should and is bound to make its due contributions to promoting international political and economic order in the direction of fair and reasonable development.

An Ancient Chinese works entitled"The Book of Changes"holds that the rise of a great event or human figure should go through six phases,and the diplomatic strategy for China taking the road of peaceful development can learn from this idea.The first phase of"keeping potentials"is equivalent to keeping a low profile.The second phase of"seeing presence of Dragon in the field"indicates achieving some progress after certain development in the international arena but in steady manner,China's diplomatic strategy is now in transition process from the first stage to the second stage.The third phase of"working hard all day long"expresses the need for working hard for self-improvement and progress.Then the fourth stage is from quantitative accumulation to emerging qualitative leap in certain favorable opportunities.The fifth phase is"dragon flying in the blue"showing that ideal causes develop very smoothly,and enjoy greater strength.The sixth phase is"haughty dragon in modesty"indicating that as career develops to the acme,particular attention should be paid to modesty,and never seeking hegemony.

A key to impacts on a rising or a reviving civilization in the international system is the concept innovations.Some rising or reviving civilizations often bring about some new ideas compatible with the historical developing trend for an international system.For example,the UK in the 18thcentury emphasized the principle of free navigation at seas.Although its subjective intention was mainly to serve its developing foreign trade and plundering colonies,yet,objectively is conducive to developing international trade and maritime transport sector.Again,at the end of World War II,the United States stood for decolonization,which although is primarily to expand the U.S.military,economic and strategic interests to the whole world,yet,objectively is conducive to development of the national liberation movements in Asia,Africa,and Latin America.

In recent years,Chinese leaders have put forward Asia New Security Concept and a new concept of"building a harmonious world with lasting peace and common prosperity".The"Harmony"idea has a long history in China and is part of the fine Chinese culture.Confucius said:harmony is the right way of heaven and earth","moral ethics no greater than harmony""in practicing rites,seeking harmony is the most valuable principle.It is cherished by the ancient sage Kings in handling state affairs,"etc.Kang Youwei in his"Great Book"proposed to establish an ideal world of"mutual benevolence,equality among people,fairness under heaven".Extending to foreign relations,the Chinese civilization always stresses friendship with neighbors,pays attention to harmonious coexistence,upholds the spirit of"harmonizing with neighbors","keeping harmony without following blindly","the strong not oppressing the weak,""the rich not insulting the poor".Taking different methods of oppression and conquest of cultures of disadvantaged ethnic groups by the Western culture,the ancient Chinese culture focuses on the ethics role demonstrated for other cultures.

The Chinese Asian new security concept and new concept of"building a harmonious world"represent the era trend of peace,development and cooperation,and reflect the common aspirations of people across the world.In order to implement the new concept of"building a harmonious world,"China unswervingly follows the road of peaceful development,its goal is to build itself into a prosperous,democratic,civilized,harmonious and modernized country.Meanwhile,China puts forward a series of ideas on how to achieve a harmonious world.China believes that a harmonious world should be a democratic world,harmonious world,fair world and inclusive world.China advocates upholding and promoting multilateralism,to expand the convergent interests proceeding from the common interests of all peoples,to enhance understanding through communication,to strengthen cooperation in the course of understanding each other,and achieve win-win cooperation.China has put forward the new security concept with mutual trust,mutual benefit,equality and coordination as the core.China advocates insistence to harmony and mutual trust to realize common security;adheres to justice and mutual benefit to attain common development;and maintain inclusive and open to achieve dialogue among civilizations.

China together with Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO)member states unswervingly advocate and practice the"Shanghai Spirit"of mutual trust,mutual benefit,equality and coordination,respect for diversified civilizations and common development.This makes the SCO Member States cover Confucian civilization，the Islamic civilization,and the Orthodox civilization,flourish,with wide-ranging international influence.With developing and rising Asia,the Asian new security concept will become more and more universal with international significance.

Reference Notes:

1.A speech by Wang Yi,then Chinese Vice Foreign Minister.on December 14,2003 at East Asian Security Cooperation Conference hosted by the International Studies of Tsinghua University,"People's Daily",December 16,2003,p.4,.

2.The State Council Information Office of China:"China’s Defense White Paper",Beijing,July 1998,International Situation Yearbook,Shanghai International Studies,Shanghai Education Press,December 1999,first edition,pp.382-383.