Maintaning regional peace
The following is an excerpt from a paper presented by Assistant Foreign Minister of China Chen Jian at the first general meeting of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) in Singapore on June 4, 1997. This is the second of two articles.
SINGAPORE: The whole picture of the region is one of general peace and prosperity. But, like elsewhere, our region has its share of unresolved issues left behind by history. These issues within, or between, countries, if not properly dealt with, will impact on the region's peace and prosperity.
It is encouraging that the overriding interest is to maintain peace and stability for the sake of economic development. But the question is can peace and stability be sustained. China is quite optimistic.
* Korean Peninsula
The overall situation on the Korean Peninsula is moving towards relaxation and stability. Notable progress has been made recently in implementing the Agreed Framework between the DPRK and the United States. The joint briefing on the Four-Party Talks also indicated some breakthrough. We welcome them all. In this connection, China also welcomes the United States, and Japan to improve relations with North Korea (DPRK).
But, the Korean Peninsula, having been victimized by the cold war, is still haunted by its shadow. It remains the only place in the region where heavy military build-up and confrontation persist. The Peninsula is riddled with distrust and hatred. The economic difficulties and food shortages faced by the DPRK are also a source of concern.
As we see it, the final solution of the Korean issue must be based on reconciliation and mutual trust between the North and South. China supports the dialogs and exchanges between the two sides which are yet to emerge. The basic principle which China upholds in dealing with the Peninsula issue is to maintain lasting peace and stability there. We are prepared to make our contribution towards replacing the Armistice Agreement with a lasting peace mechanism.
* South China Sea
Generally speaking, the South China Sea situation is stable. We are happy to note that progress has been registered in the regular bilateral consultations between China and the countries concerned. The political consultation held last March between China and ASEAN proved to be the most frank and fruitful one.
We recognize that pending an eventual solution to overlapping claims, incidents might occur despite ourselves. But with our overriding common interest and political will, those challenges are not impossible to meet. In this connection, it is particularly noteworthy that a common understanding has emerged in those consultations: (1) The disputes in the region should be resolved through peaceful means rather than by resorting to the use or threat of force. (2) Pending an eventual solution, parties concerned should exercise utmost self-restraint and seek to shelve the disputes and go for joint development. (3) The parties concerned shall place the development of friendly bilateral relations at the top and not let such disputes undermine our common endeavor for peace and prosperity in the region.
China has and will continue to follow the above-mentioned principles. With much at stake, no one in the region will want to raise a rumpus. We are quite optimistic that peace and stability will be maintained and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea will be ensured.
* Taiwan
The question of Taiwan, an internal affair of China's, was left over from a bitter civil war and also resulted from the events of the early 1950s. We stand for exchanges of mail, trade, air and shipping services between the two sides of the Strait. We will stick to the policy of "peaceful reunification" on the basis of "one country two systems". "So long as no foreign countries attempt to take away Taiwan, nor Taiwan declare independence, the situation across the Taiwan Strait will remain peaceful and the freedom of navigation through the Strait will not be a question."
Regional multilateral dialogs and cooperation are playing an increasingly important role.
In recent years, especially after the Cold War, there has emerged a new phenomena in the region, to maintain regional peace and prosperity through multilateral dialog and cooperation. And such multilateral efforts as ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Asia Pacific Economic Council (APEC), Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) and Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia- Pacific (CSCAP) have come to the fore. A multilateral framework seems to be the order of the day, both in the economic and security fields.
In economics, APEC has become an important approach. APEC members have made headway in promoting regional economic cooperation, liberalization of trade and investment and technical cooperation.
In security, regional multilateral efforts such as ARF, CSCAP, Asia-Pacific Roundtable have been actively promoting dialog and cooperation.
As the most important forum for multilateral security dialog and cooperation, ARF has played an active role in enhancing mutual understanding and trust among its members. ARF meetings have gradually deepened discussions on concepts and ideas concerning regional security. At a working level, it has started to explore cooperation measures in various fields. Not long ago, at the ARF Senior Officials Meeting in Langkawi, Malaysia, members agreed to further its current dialog process while starting to explore its future orientation. ARF has been successful thanks to all its members for their sincere efforts, to ASEAN for carefully steering its orientation and also to academics and scholars alike, who were not only involved in conceiving the idea of ARF but also contributing their thoughts and suggestions.
I have learned the following from personal involvement in ARF:
Firstly, ARF members came not because they were confronted with a common threat. They came for a common objective -- to maintain peace and stability in the region. ARF activities are aimed at achieving what is in the interests of all. Therefore, the principle of consensus has been followed.
Secondly, ARF is a non-exclusive body. Its members are diverse in their experiences and expectations for multilateral security dialog and cooperation. Therefore, ARF can only move in a progressive way and make incremental progress.
Thirdly, for historical reasons, there exist various military security arrangements among some of its members. Countries also have different national defense set-ups based on their own security perceptions and policies. ARF will not replace existing structures nor should it weaken the sense of security of any of its members. Its focus should be to explore political dialog and pursue confidence-building, to prepare the groundwork for future cooperation.
These have been very important for its success and will be the key to its continued progress.
There seems to be mixed feelings about ARF. Some think it is too slow. Others are concerned about its haste. I think we should judge ARF by what it has achieved, not by what it has not done. ARF is the first ever collective endeavor in this region to carry out institutionalized multilateral security dialogs. It represents a regional effort to form a new security order. Its progress and success is already remarkable.
But ARF is not a cultivation in a vacuum. It cannot go beyond the reality of the region. As the region grows more prosperous, trust levels are raised and the ideas for regional security order between its members converge, ARF will certainly be able to do more in the region.
As an Asia-Pacific country and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China attaches great importance to the region's security and economic environment and is strongly committed to stepping up dialog and cooperation with other countries.
To this end, we have conducted extensive political dialogs and military exchanges with many countries, including ARF members. One latest important progress in terms of confidence-building is the Agreement on Mutual Reduction of Military Forces in Border Areas signed by China with Russia, the republic of Kazakstan, Kirghiztan Republic and the Republic of Tazakistan last April.
China stands ready to work with other neighboring countries to explore and gradually work out appropriate confidence-building measures on the basis of equality and mutual respect.
As can be seen, the present regional situation of peace, stability and prosperity promises a bright prospect while we may meet great challenges.
Let me recapitulate China's views and position on consolidating regional security for the next century:
(1) To establish a constructive and cooperative relationship among the major powers and forces as a pre-condition for lasting peace in the region. The notion of replacing Cold War superpower rivalry with any new type of great power rivalry is detrimental to the region and therefore must be forsaken once and for all. As far as China is concerned, we will not seek spheres of influence, nor hegemonic power in the region, even when we are fully developed. Rivalry or confrontation with other major powers or forces is no choice for China, now or in the future. All China seeks is normal relations with all countries, transcending the differences of social systems or values. That is not the dictates of conscience, but rather the dictates of national interests.
(2) To further expand and enhance trade and economic linkages within the region as an important means to strengthen the safety net for regional security. As the world economy moves towards greater integration, one country will have little to gain and much to lose by attacking or crippling the economy of any other countries.
The development of China goes side by side with this trend. In particular, the development of China and that of the whole region complement and reinforce each other. With her economic growth based on an open policy, the relations between China and rest of the region will be further strengthened. China's new renaissance poses no threat to any, but rather will enhance peace and prosperity.
(3) To manage and resolve differences and disputes left over by history on the basis of universally accepted international norms and principles, particularly, the non-use of force. Our national history and that of the world has revealed a truth: war brings untold sufferings not only to the peoples who are subjected to it but also to those who started it. As a nation which has had an unequal share of such sufferings under foreign subjugation and aggression, China will not do to others what she would not have them do to herself. In the context of this region, China has set forth three basic objectives: first, its own stability and prosperity; second, lasting peace in the surrounding region; third, dialogue and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and equality.
(4) To give full play to the multi-lateral approach to regional security through ARF, CSCAP and other fora for dialog and cooperation. We, in China, support ARF and other fora as a new approach to regional security, an approach different the from Cold War mentality, an approach which seeks to strengthen peace through dialogue and cooperation. We are prepared to see ARF develop and expand its activities through stages, in keeping with the pace of multi-polarization in the region and the improvement and development of bilateral relations among the major powers and forces of the region.
Window: As an Asia-Pacific country and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China attaches great importance to the region's security and economic environment and is strongly committed to stepping up dialog and cooperation with other countries.