Abstracts

Why Didn’t Tajikistan Join the EAEU?——A Comparison Study between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (5)

Zeng Xianghong Wan Tiannan

【Abstract】On January 1, 2015, Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan formally established the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).In the same year, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia became its members.It is often difficult for the small countries in the CIS region to refuse Russia’s request due to the asymmetric power structure they’re in.However, Tajikistan, a small CIS country, similar to Kyrgyzstan in all respects, has not joined the EAEU.Why didn’t Russia force it to join? Why didn’t it join while Kyrgyzstan did? This paper argues that negotiation hegemony provides small regional countries with the initiative when they cooperate with major powers.Whether to join the EAEU depends on the political stability and economic expectations of the two countries.As Kyrgyz’s long-term political transition has led to political turmoil, there is an urgent need for it to grab the opportunity offered by Russia to appease internal conflicts and maintain its regime.However, Tajikistan, with its relatively stable regime under Rahmon’s rule, has more leeway to seek more favorable terms of EAEU membership from Russia.

【Key Words】Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Political Stability

【Authors】Zeng Xianghong, Professor of Institute for Central Asian Studies, School of Politics and International Relations, Lanzhou University, whose research focuses on area studies as well as counter-terrorism and international relations theories; Wan Tiannan, Undergraduate Student of the School of Politics and International Relations, Lanzhou University, whose research focuses on Central Asian studies, and international security.

Deviation from Europeanization in Poland and Hungary in the Context of COVID-19——An Analysis Based on the Decisions of the Council of European Union (25)

Yang Yousun

【Abstract】In recent years, especially after the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, Poland and Hungary have seen an escalation of conflicts with the EU.After the UK faded out and eventually left the EU, Poland and Hungary have become more Eurosceptic, engaging in fierce battles with the EU over accepting refugees, LGBTQ+ rights, democracy, and the rule of law.There is even talk about the so-called “Polish-Hungarian Axis”.Will the conflicts between Poland/Hungary and the EU lead to a complete departure from “Europeanization”, or to what extent will it lead to such departure? Does the “Polish-Hungarian axis” exist? These issues call for a more macroscopic and long-term analysis.Through statistics, analysis, and comparison of the voting results of the Council of European Union of the two countries between 2009 and 2020, the paper attempts to draw an objective and rational conclusion.

【Key Words】COVID-19, the Council of European Union, Europeanization

【Author】Yang Yousun, Professor at the School of Government of Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, whose research focuses on European political systems, ethnic issues, and European integration.

Challenges and Responses of the SCO after Its Expansion——A Study from the Perspective of the Relationship between International Organizations and International Norms (41)

Zhang Jiaolong

【Abstract】Four years after the first expansion, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has not improved the ability to maintain regional security, extended economic cooperation, or enhanced international influence.On the contrary, it has encountered such challenges as the decline in the cohesion of the SCO and deteriorating bilateral relations among member states.Why is it the case? From the perspective of the relationship between international norms and international organizations, this paper argues that the former has an important impact on the creation and growth of the latter.If the organizational norms are weakened after the expansion of an international organization, such organization will suffer from setbacks instead of reaping the benefits from expansion.A major challenge for the SCO after expansion is the risk of the weakening norms centered around the Shanghai Spirit, especially after India attempted to incorporate its own interpretation of the norms in the SCO, which has undermined the potential for cooperation in regional security and economy.Therefore, it is necessary for the SCO to strengthen the normative dominance of the Shanghai Spirit through “interest incentives”, “learning” and “persuasion”, i.e., to build an organizational structure with conflict management at the core, to build a network of cooperation oriented toward the “community with a shared future”, and to strengthen the collaboration between China and Russia, so that all member states, old and new, further internalize the Shanghai Spirit and work together for an SCO community of shared future.

【Key Words】international norms, international organizations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Shanghai Spirit, normative internalization

【Author】Zhang Jiaolong, Assistant Researcher at the Department for International and Strategic Studies of China Institute of International Studies, whose research focuses on global governance and international organizations, international development, nontraditional security, etc.

Southeast Asian Economic Cooperation from the Perspective of New Regionalism (57)

Guan Ziyi Zhang Ying

【Abstract】The regional economic integration in Southeast Asia began with the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967.Since then, Southeast Asian countries have realized rapid regional economic growth via ASEAN.The regional economic integration of ASEAN fully embodies the characteristics of the new regionalism: first, the region saw an evolution from passive to active economic cooperation with distinct “regionness”; second, the economic cooperation in Southeast Asia is multifaceted, characterized by equal dialogue between the North and the South while rejecting Western centralism, and therefore is “global” in nature.The regional economic integration of Southeast Asia revolves around four paths: the construction of identity; the institutionalization of cooperation; the opening and improvement of markets; and the expansion of cooperation across regions and the world.The economic cooperation in Southeast Asia takes into account both globalization and regional development, and is fully characterized by new regionalism.As a result, it has implications for other countries that intend to take part in regional economic integration.

【Key Words】New Regionalism, regionness, Southeast Asia, ASEAN Economic Community

【Authors】Guan Ziyi, M.A.Student of the School of International Relations and Diplomacy, Beijing Foreign Studies University, whose research interest is world economy; Zhang Ying, Adjunct Professor of the School of African Studies and professor of the School of International Relations and Diplomacy of Beijing Foreign Studies University, whose research areas include international relations and China diplomacy, and summit diplomacy.

Rights of the Consignee under the Consignment Note and the “Railway Bill of Lading” in the Context of the Belt and Road Initiative (78)

Liu Bin Shen Jingrong

【Abstract】Since the Belt and Road Initiative was put forward, China’s international landbased trade has become more prosperous, but currently the consignment note lacks the function as title document, which hinders the further development of international landbased trade.The consignee under the consignment note is only entitled to the right to change the contract and the right to claim the delivery of the goods, while the consignee under the “railway bill of lading” shall be entitled to a series of rights in the dual categories of credit and property rights.The similarities and differences in the rights of the consignee under the consignment note and the “railway bill of lading” coexist.On the one hand, the basic legal relationship and specific rights of the two overlap.On the other hand, the latter also involves the relationship of property rights, the ability of the latter to control cargo is stronger, and the international financing function of the latter is also higher.If the legal system for international transportation establishes the “railway bill of lading”, entitles the consignee with property rights, it will be of great benefit to international land-based trade.However, such legal support is absent.China could provide domestic legal support, carry out relevant business practices so as to implementation “railway bill of lading” as soon as possible.

【Key Words】Belt and Road Initiative, consignment note, “Railway Bill of Lading”, rights of consignee

【Authors】Liu Bin, Associate Professor at the School of International Law, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, whose research focuses on international economic law; Shen Jingrong, Graduate Student at the School of International Law, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, whose research focuses on international economic law.

A Study of China’s Foreign Trade Frictions from the Perspective of Emergencies (97)

Zhao Yajuan Niu Rui Guo Hao

【Abstract】Emergences often bring fluctuations in the economic environment and trade relations.The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 plunged the global economy into a downward spiral and caused frequent trade frictions.Western countries, including some European countries and the United States, have launched a series of trade investigations against China with “animosity”.The global value chain and the international trade order have been severely disrupted, and trade relations between countries are in the doldrums.In view of the stimulating effect of the pandemic on trade frictions, this paper systematically reviews and analyzes the relationship between emergencies and trade friction in past 20 years in China, which may help clarify the impact of international trade frictions when emergences occur in and out of China.This paper reviews China’s foreign trade frictions from the perspective of sudden external shocks and analyzes the relationship between them and China’s foreign trade frictions, and the development trend of China’s trade friction under such impact.On this basis, the paper summarizes the difficulties faced by China in dealing with the trade frictions triggered by emergencies and discusses some possible solutions.

【Key Words】trade friction, emergencies, COVID-19 outbreak, emergency response mechanism

【Authors】Zhao Yajuan, Graduate Student at Tianjin Foreign Studies University, whose research focuses on world economy; Niu Rui, Associate Professor at Tianjin Foreign Studies University, whose research focuses on world economy; Guo Hao, Graduate Student at Nankai University, whose research focuses on international trade.

China-Sri Lanka People-to-People Exchange: Status Quo, Challenges and Approaches (113)

Wang Tengfei

【Abstract】Throughout history, the ancient Maritime Silk Road, Faxian’s journey to Sri Lanka, Zheng He’s naval expeditions, and the Rubber-Rice Pact have enriched the people-to-people exchanges between China and Sri Lanka, laying a solid foundation for bilateral relations.Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1957, bilateral cooperation and interaction in book publishing, radio, film and television, education, culture and think tanks have become more and more frequent with significant achievement.However, we cannot ignore the fact that Sri Lankan security situation is still not optimistic, the political party struggles sometimes lead to anti-China sentiment, Western forces continue to smear China in Sri Lanka, and India’s influence bring many challenges to the people-to-people exchanges between the two.At the same time, China-Sri Lanka peopleto-people exchange is unbalanced and inadequate, and few joint efforts have been made.In light of these challenges, the two countries should actively promote the institutionalization of bilateral people-to-people exchange and cooperation, give priority to key areas of exchange, leverage new media and new technologies, advocate open and inclusive exchange, and emphasize two-way interactions.

【Key Words】Sri Lanka, people-to-people exchange, China-Sri Lanka relations

【Author】Wang Tengfei, Assistant Research Fellow of the Research Center for Ocean Law and Policy at the National Institute for the South China Sea Studies (NISCSS), whose research focuses on Sri Lanka and maritime security.

Study on the Selection Mechanism of Recipient Countries of China’s Medical Aid (134)

Nie Li

【Abstract】Foreign aid policies are shaped by the interaction between donors and recipients in a given environment.Understanding the criteria of donors of ranking the selection of recipient countries helps us understand the details and trends of the policies.Dispatching medical teams overseas is an important form of China’s foreign aid.The external driving factor, domestic judgment, and feedback constitute the three key criteria in the selection of recipient countries.The external driving factor determines the general direction of aid policy, the domestic judgment makes the initial selection of recipient countries, and the positive/negative feedback from the recipient countries provides the basis for adjustment.In general, Chinese medical teams have gone through three stages in selecting recipient countries: limited selection, selection adjustment, and selection optimization, forming a two-way process, i.e., from complicated to simple selection and from simple to complicated selection.In the future, different factors should be considered for the dispatch of Chinese medical teams overseas to help build the credibility of China’s foreign aid and create a community of common health for mankind.

【Key Words】China’s medical aid teams, donor countries, recipient countries, selection mechanism

【Author】Nie Li, PhD Candidate of the School of International Studies of Jinan University, whose research focuses on Chinese Diplomacy.