LiYi（ Beijing Foreign Studies University）
Is there any relationship between Chinese traditional culture and Major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics? If so, in what aspects? How does it affect the policies, strategies and practices of Major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era? Culture plays an important role.Within a country, culture is a part of a country's soft power and an important part of its comprehensive strength.From the perspective of national diplomacy, culture is the channel of national communication and an important tool in diplomatic means.At the international level, diverse and common cultures contribute to the sound development of international relations.Understanding the connotation and characteristics of a country's traditional culture and interpreting its cultural genes and values is of certain enlightenment for understanding the diplomatic layout of a country.
Since the 1990s, there has been a worldwide upsurge in the study of culture and international relations.Many scholars have put forward profound views on the status, role and influence of cultural factors in international relations."Diplomatic behavior is governed by leaders' ideology, which is not only formed on the basis of long-term response to external environment, but also reflects the political culture and ideology of the country or nation," Wang Jisi said.International politics includes the coordination and conflict of different national interests and the collision of different ideas and principles.Therefore, to study the foreign policy of a country, especially that of great power, it is necessary to examine the country's political tradition, values and culture in a broad sense.Feng Shaolei believes that in the half century since the end of the Second World War, the international community has experienced a transition from political freedom to economic growth, social equity and cultural self-identification, so culture plays an important role in diplomacy.Zhang Ji, Yu Xintian, Pan Yihe and other scholars have discussed the relationship between culture and diplomacy, including the role of culture in international politics, cultural studies should become the third dimension of international relations theory, and the value and cohesion of Chinese culture should be utilized to shape the pattern of future international relations. It can be seen that culture and diplomacy are inextricably linked.In particular, many scholars have discussed the influence of Chinese culture on China's diplomacy.Xing Liju believes the characteristics of traditional culture as “relevance, inclusiveness, harmony and wholeness” to interpret China's diplomatic thoughts in the new era. Liu Congde and Wang Xiao regard "benevolence, integrity, justice, harmony and unity" as the most important aspects of Chinese culture in China's diplomatic practice. Thus, Chinese traditional culture has greatly influenced the outlook of China's diplomacy.
For a country, the ruling itself and the making of foreign policy take place in a certain cultural context, which will reflect its cultural tradition and political thinking, directly affecting the implementation of concrete actions. Different countries often judge other countries in their own standard. Due to the hegemony of western discourse, theories based on western tradition are often universalized to interpret the behaviors of other countries. For this reason, it is difficult to understand the Chinese people's ideas and behavior derived from traditional Chinese culture, and China's diplomatic discourse and practice are misinterpreted easily. Therefore, it is necessary to construct the discourse system of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, reveal the neglected deep-level cultural and traditional factors and enhance its influence and appeal, so as to create a new situation of foreign affairs in the new era.
Contents of China's Major-country Diplomacy in the New Era
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee and in the world which is marked by changes unseen in a century, China has overcome many difficulties and made great strides in advancing the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. It has weathered many risks and made great achievements. China's history, national mission and cultural endowment determine that China must follow a path that suits its own characteristics and pursue major-country diplomacy with distinctive Chinese characteristics.
(1)Facing the new situation: major changes unseen in a century
In December 2017, when general secretary Xi Jinping met with the returning delegates to the 2017 Working Conference of Foreign diplomatic missions overseas, he raised for the first time "profound changes unseen in a century", which is a new and important summing-up judgment on the current world situation. This change mainly reflected in three aspects: one is the change of China itself: China has returned to center stage as a bellwether. It is against this background that China's diplomacy has taken on a new momentum and outlook. The second is the profound changes taking place in the world: with growing trends toward multi-polarity, deepening economic globalization, increasing cultural diversity and an emerging information society, the world today is undergoing complicated changes that developing a new model of international relations is strongly needed. The third is the historic change in China's relations with the world. In modern times, China's national strength gradually declined because it missed the tide of modernization. In the new era, China began to enter the fast track of development, and its international status and influence increased, entering the core of the international stage from the periphery. Confronting with such changes, China's major-country diplomacy has taken a holistic approach to the overall situation, coordinated domestic and international affairs from a higher and broader perspective, and led the reshaping of the world order.
(2)Embarking on a new journey: taking the path of peaceful development
The path of peaceful development based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation is an important part of China's major -country diplomacy. The world is undergoing major development, transformation and adjustment, but peace and development remain the theme of our times. The road of peaceful development has deep historical and cultural background of more than five thousand years. It represents the sincere aspiration and unremitting pursuit of the Chinese people, the confidence and self-consciousness of the Chinese people in achieving their development goals, and a socialist development path that suits China's reality. As China's relations with the world have changed dramatically in the new era, China has responded to questions from the international community. It opposes hegemonism and power politics, and will never follow the western path of "a strong country is bound to seek hegemony".
(3)Proposing a new vision: building a community with a shared future for mankind
Building a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind is the overarching goal of China's major-country diplomacy and the general direction of China's efforts. It is a beautiful vision of human development and social progress described by the CPC Central Committee. No country can prosper in isolation or meet all challenges on its own, as our interests are closely inter-connected. Building a community with a shared future for mankind becomes an important solution put forward by China which helps to guide the future development of mankind.
(4)Building a new platform: advancing Belt and Road Cooperation
With the focus on Belt and Road cooperation, China works with others to create a new platform for international cooperation and inject new impetus into world development. The Belt and Road Initiative is not only a concrete manifestation of China's historic achievements in foreign affairs under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, but also one of the public goods widely welcomed by countries around the world. It has become an open and inclusive process, bringing win-win results to China and the world in policy, infrastructure, trade, financial and people-to-people connectivity, and gradually opening up new prospects for international cooperation.
(5)Introducing a new expression: the correct concept of justice and interests
Xi Jinping first mentioned the concept of "justice and interests" during his visit to Africa in March 2013 and proposed it as a guideline for China to build a new type of international relations with neighboring countries and other developing countries for win-win cooperation in October. Different from the traditional western approach of putting interests first, China's concept to justice and shared interests calls for common development of the world, especially for developing countries. Therefore, the concept of justice and interests meets the needs of promoting common progress of mankind, maintains fairness and justice, and has become a clear banner for major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
Features of China's Major-country Diplomacy in the new era
(1)The view of overall situation
Throughout history, Chinese diplomatic philosophy began in the pre-Qin period. "Shi" is a unique word in the eastern context. With thousands of years of development, it plays a special role in China's political thought which is an important way of thinking for China to understand itself and the world. "Shi" is often used as the meaning of "situation", "power" and "circumstances". There is a saying in Sun Tzu's Art of War: By 'situation' I mean he should take the field situation into consideration and act in accordance with what is advantageous. As Laozi said: Tao gives them birth, Tech (character) fosters them. The material world gives them form. The circumstances of the moment complete them. The formation and disappearance of "Shi" depends on whether to follow the development trend and objective law of things, which determines the effect of things. It is not an accident of history that the Chinese civilization has survived for 5,000 years. The main reason is that the Chinese people have been able to keep pace with the times.
Today, the changing international environment provides a historical opportunity for China to play a constructive role in various international issues and global governance, and strive for strategic initiatives. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has recognized the complex and fast-changing world situation that China faces. Grasping the direction of trends and the overall situation from a historical and global perspective, China's diplomacy continues to forge ahead.
(2)The view of harmony
For decades, China has adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace. Peace, like air and sunshine, is hardly noticed when people are benefiting from it. But none of us can live without it. Harmony in Traditional Chinese culture has long been embedded in China's national concepts and principles for dealing with all kinds of relations. You Zi said: "In practicing the rules of propriety, it is harmony that is prized." Laozi said: "Out of Tao, One is born; Out of One, Two; Out of Two, Three; Out of Three, the created universe. The created universe carries the yin at its back and yang in front; Through the union of the pervading principles it reaches harmony.” Disharmony exists, and there are still many contradictions, threats and conflicts in the world, but it is possible to achieve a new balance and harmony.
On the journey ahead, China will make still more achievements in its efforts to promote peaceful development and win-win cooperation among civilizations and advance the cause of peace in the world.
(3)The view of order
Building a community with a shared future for mankind is the ultimate pursuit and highest ideal of Major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. Its core is similar to "Datong" (Great Harmony) in traditional Chinese culture, which reflects the thought of heaven and man are united as one. Great harmony is not only a value, but also a philosophy of an ideal society. The highest ideal pursued by traditional Chinese culture represents the vision and efforts of mankind for the future. It can be summarized as the realization of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness, inclusiveness, cleanliness and beauty in the political, security, economic, cultural and ecological aspects of the world. It carries on and develops the major diplomatic thoughts and propositions of the People's Republic of China in different periods of time. It reflects the culture of China and other countries and the pursuit of values common to mankind. It adapts to the historic changes in China's relations with the world in the new era and will surely benefit the contemporary world and mankind.
(4)The view of civilization
The Belt and Road Initiative follows the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit. This view of civilization was conceived in traditional Chinese culture since ancient times. "As earth's condition is receptive devotion, a gentleman should hold the outer world with broad mind." The world is full of colorful cultures that Chinese have long come to understand the significance of exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, and appreciate the wisdom of upholding inclusiveness. One of China's most important views on how to treat other cultures and civilizations can be summed up as "seeking common ground while reserving differences". Guided by the spirit of Silk Road, the diversity of civilizations would be respected. Working together with the rich and colorful civilizations created by the people of other countries, there is no so-called "clash of civilizations", but the integration and innovation of civilizations.
(5)The view of justice and interests
It is one of the distinctive features of Chinese traditional culture to put spiritual pursuit and lofty morality in the first place. When conflicts arise between justice and interests, Chinese people will always choose the former without hesitation. "The man of honor seeks righteousness, while the man of disgrace only cares about profit." "Life is what I treasure, and righteousness is also what I treasure. If I cannot have both, I prefer righteousness to life." In the numerous works of various schools of thought, there are many descriptions of valuing justice over interest, putting justice before interest, balancing justice and interest, and pursuing interest in the right way. There are many examples to show that abiding by morality is the invariable code of conduct of the Chinese nation for thousands of years. In its diplomatic practice, China has provided assistance to other developing countries within its capacity. For instance, China has cancelled debts that owed to the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states, put forward a massive plan to carry out 10 major cooperation projects in Africa with support of US$60 billion, set up a South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund (SSCAF) and so on. To properly handle the relationship between justice and interests and attach importance to morality and responsibility is a distillation of fine traditions and has become a distinctive feature of China's major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.
Significance of Traditional Culture to Major-country Diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the New Era
(1)The character of traditional culture: attaching great importance to people
Humanism has been one of the essential characteristics of Chinese culture since the Western Zhou Dynasty. Humanism advocates that people are the subject of history, which means human survival and development is the purpose of all human activities, and the highest value of society. When talking about Chinese traditional culture, Feng Youlan once said that no matter ancient or modern, Chinese or foreign philosophy, in the final analysis, it is about human beings, and Chinese philosophy especially emphasizes human beings. A series of people -oriented thoughts, such as people are foundation of a country, and people are more important than Monarch, are the basis of humanism, which is reflected in the ancient doctrines. Humanistic rationality is the main character of Chinese traditional culture, which also has a profound impact on China's diplomacy. Upholding fundamental stance of siding with the people, and striving for the wellbeing of the people as ultimate mission, China has been adhering to the principle of practicing "diplomacy for the people". Great achievements in history were created by the people, and the glory of the new era will be led by the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics that puts the interests of the people above all else
(2)The spirit of traditional culture: advocating harmony without uniformity
The prominent characteristics of Chinese traditional culture are rationalism and the unremitting implementation of humanistic education. Under the guidance of Confucian rationalism, there exists a spirit of coexistence in Chinese culture, specifically advocating harmony without uniformity and supporting multiculturalism. According to the differences between Chinese and western cultures, western culture is based on theistic philosophy, while Chinese culture evolves from the belief of ancestor worship in Yin and Zhou dynasties to real life. Religious wars were very brutal in western history, but never happened in China, mainly because Chinese culture pursues diversity and harmony. "China threat" theory is bandied about so rampantly across the world today. Nevertheless, this is wrong because the basic features of Traditional Chinese culture are misunderstood or ignored. Without resorting violent conflict, China has strong determination to achieve peaceful development which is the essence of major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
(3)The ethics in traditional culture: maintaining international justice
Liang Shuming once pointed out, "Chinese culture is neither individual-oriented nor group-oriented, but ethically oriented, focusing on interpersonal relationships. William Theodore de Bary calls it a special kind of personalism, "a strong moral conscience shaped and formed in the social and cultural process, the ultimate of which is to achieve a sense of self-realization in the unity of man and nature". In traditional Chinese culture, there are rules that must be followed to develop human relations. Two elements are very important in traditional Chinese culture, on the one hand, ethical “courtesy” (Li) and on the other hand, moral “benevolence” (Ren). Confucianism has profoundly influenced the practice of China's diplomacy, which is embodied in the maintenance of international justice and the pursuit of a fair and reasonable new international order. "Li" mainly shows the norms and constraints on behavior which can be used as a reference for the relations between countries and can create a good atmosphere for international actors. It is helpful for the international community to establish good and stable relations between countries, promote "benevolence" with " courtesy", and guide the international actors to achieve moral realization in the highest sense. "Benevolence" is the concentrated embodiment of the way people get along with each other. In international relations, it is about abandoning the zero-sum game of "you lose, I win" and "the winner takes all". Just like "Do unto others what you would have them do unto you and do not impose your views on them" in traditional Chinese ethics. It is under the influence of such thinking that China calls on all countries to uphold the principle of mutual respect, jointly pursue fairness and justice in international order, work together for mutual benefit and win-win results, and blaze a new path for state-to-state relations.
(4)The value of traditional culture: pursuing international consensus
China's call for a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation is an innovation of traditional culture in the new era to guide the international order. The fundamental characteristic of Chinese culture is inclusiveness. Confucianism emphasizes political and cultural values such as "courtesy" and "benevolence", so as to realize "within the four seas all men are brothers" and "all under heaven are of one family". German scholars once said: "Chinese traditional culture, especially Confucianism, has a great influence on contemporary diplomacy, which helps China to establish strategic partnerships with other great powers at different levels. Countries in the world share weal and woe with each other. According to the Western worldview -- the nation-state view of the world, we see only national interests. However, the interests of all mankind in the world are not simply the sum of the interests of all nation states. China is concerned about the overall interests of mankind. Just as in the midst of the pandemic, China has provided more than 480 million doses of vaccines to nearly 100 countries in need, despite its own huge demand for vaccines. The world's problems cannot be solved by isolation. It's important is to make more countries and regions realize the necessity, and urgency of reaching global consensus, which is what China's major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics about. To build a community with a shared future for mankind is exactly to pursue international consensus and uphold the common values and interests of mankind. It is a reflection on the relationship between ideal and reality as well as the development law of human society. It has rich normative connotations and provides solutions for the world facing many challenges.
Conclusion
Traditional Chinese culture has provided China's major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics with the right cultural guidance and strong motivation. Based on the analysis of the influence of traditional culture on China's diplomacy in the new era, this paper holds that traditional Chinese culture has influenced the starting point, priorities, principles and values of China's diplomacy. China's diplomacy is people-centered, serves the Chinese people and works with the people of the world to achieve common development. "Harmony in diversity" and "multicultural coexistence" enable China to uphold peace and keep its promise of never seeking hegemony or expansion. To uphold international justice and pursue a fair and reasonable new international order, China follows the nature of benevolence in its international dealings. Pursuing international consensus and upholding the common values of mankind, China has shouldered its responsibilities as a major country and made its contribution to the world. The traditional Chinese culture is the root and soul of the Chinese nation. It is necessary to enrich the connotation of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and increase cultural awareness and cultural confidence. Meanwhile, it should be noted that attaching importance to traditional cultural factors does not mean exaggerating the influence of traditional culture on China's diplomacy, nor does it mean "clinging to the past". Instead, with the inheritance and innovation of Chinese traditional culture, the theory and discourse system of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics will be better constructed.
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