Assess the view that China has been a responsible regional power since 1978.

China has been able to act as a responsible stakeholder in the regional via the
economic and regional political dimensions. This is achieved mainly through her
active participation in a variety of regional organization, her commitment in regional
peace and security, promoting regional economic cooperation and trade, and her
commitment to protecting the environment. Nonetheless, there are still many
domestic challenges, such as sustaining economic development and preserving
territorial sovereignty, which have direct implications on her national interests.
These challenges have become obstacles in allowing China to fulfill her role as a
full-fledged responsible stakeholder in the region.
As a responsible member of the international community, China has commited
herself in securing regional peace and security. As a responsible stakeholder, China
must be able to initiate and lead certain peace-keeping activities and also to
combat regional terrorism in the long-run. A significant effort made by China was
the initiation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, together with Russia and
the Central Asian states, back in 1999. This initiative was the brainchild of China, in
the bid to counter terrorist activities in Central Asia. China has also participated
actively in the 6-party talks involving South and North Korea, the USA, Japan and
Russia, in bid to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. Besides, Premier Wen visited
North Korea in October 2009, hoping to persuade North Korea from continuing its
nuclear programs. However, some attempts by China in ensuring regional stability
have been met by some obstacles. Although China hopes to stabilize the Central
Asian region via the SCO, the increasing presence of the Americans in the region
has belittled the influence the Chinese can extend. In the context of denuclearizing
North Korea, China could not agree on the USs decision to punish North Korea,
fearing for instability of the region, and has invited criticisms from the West for
hindering the peace process in Northeast Asia. However, China has agreed for the
first time to economically sanction North Korea in 2009. Although China has initiated
several plans to promote peace and security in the region, its plans have been
limited by unforeseen external circumstances.
As a responsible power in the region, China has tried to promote economic
cooperation with developed and developing neighbors. In order to be a responsible
member of the regional community, China has to integrate itself economically
within the current economic region order. Hence, it has an extensive trade network
with Asian developed nations and has also provided economic aid to less developed
nations. A significant economic milestone for China is its ascension into the WTO in
2001. This signaled its commitment to promote a region without trade barriers.
China has signed various FTAs with developed and developing nations such as
Singapore and ASEAN respectively. These FTAs can help to promote free trade in the
region. Furthermore, China has frequent economic dialogues with Japan and South
Korea and in recent months, Japans concept of an EU-styled Asian bloc is a way of
integrating China with the rest of Asia via economic cooperation. China has also

helped less-economic cooperation. For e.g. China have good trading ties with
Vietnam in the manner of the Greater Mekong Sub-region framework and ASEAN+3.
Such aids through cooperation offered to less-developed countries have definitely
helped China forge better bilateral relationships in the relationships in the long-run.
Although China has had cordial economic relationship with many neighbours, its
economic policies have similarly angered them, which have resulted in several trade
rows in recent years. However, China has also been frequently criticized by
developed Asian economies in the region for unfair competition. As China grows
economically stronger, it is actually creating competition for FDIs with Japan, South
Korea and ASEAN. Many foreign investors are shifting their bases away from costly
developed Asian economies to the relatively cheaper Chinese market. Low labour
and land costs are actually attractions which its Asian counterparts could not offer
readily. This especially sensitive during the current financial meltdown, where China
is eyeing the Japanese automobile industry, the rice-bowl of the Japanese economy.
Chian has promised to protect the environment, hoping to contribute positively to
the region as a stakeholder of the region. As Chinas GDP grows rapidly over the
years, it can no longer shy away from its responsibility as a major producer of
greenhouse gases in the region. As such, China must come up with concrete
measures to display its commitment, President Hu pledged to intensify its efforts to
reduce carbon emission, during the first day of the UN General Assembly meeting.
Furthermore, China has also stepped up its efforts in the country to clean up
pollution. Various major efforts include the Green Wall Project, the No cars Day
prior to the 2008Beijing Olympics, and the plans to build the largest solar plant in
the region in a decades time. The Chinese government has also set up the SePA to
better govern the environment problems. However, many of these green efforts are
only on the rhetoric or short-term basis. Hitherto, in reality, Chinas pollution
problem has become more serious, and global warming is becoming more serious
by the day. This will even have a more direct impact on its immediate neighbours.
Although the Chinese government has pledged to reduce pollution, the local
government has sabotaged the efforts as the local authorities do not enforce
environmental laws due to corruption or the desire to climb the bureaucracy ladder,
which is based more on economic growth than environmental protection. The lack in
enforcement has not only harmed the country, but has also directly impacted its
neighbours and the regional community. The 2005 Songhua River incident has
become an international incident when polluted Chinese water flowed into Russia. In
addition, South Korea experienced a sandstorm blowing from Beijing, a result of
Chinas irresponsible economic development. Although the Chinese government has
pledged to combat global warming, its domestic flaws have seriously hindered its
progress, and have even created more costs for the country and the region.
In order to preserve its territorial integrity, China has acted as a hegemonic power,
which is seen as being irresponsible in eyes of its neighbors. Given the many
territorial controversies. China has stood firm on labeling them as domestic

affairs, creating tensions between it and the countries involved. The tensions are
especially damaging to Chinas image, when other powers wants to have claims
over the disputed areas. A typical dispute over territories would be between China
and India over Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh. Both powers have claimed the
areas sovereignty, and is source of long-term disputes between the 2countries.
Another disputed area would be claimed to be a renegade island of the country. Its
constant threat of aggression against the small island has aroused criticism from
the US, which sees Chinas actions as hegemonic. This is especially true when the
PLA started the Taiwan Missile Crisis in 1995-1996. Although China has some
territorial disputes in the region that are damaging to its image as a responsible
regional power, the current cordial relations it has with its neighbor may only
appear in the short-run, as they are very dependent on the internal workings of
various countries. However, current Sino-India and Cross-Strait relations are
becoming more cordial as compared to the past. Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian PM
Manmohan Signh met recently during the 2009 ASEAN Summit to pledge of healthy
relations ahead, though the disputed regions remains to be a point of argument
between the 2nations. Cross-strait relations have also become more cordial than
ever, when the KMT won the Presidential elections in Taiwan in 2008. Since then,
both parties have engaged in numerous economic agreements, most notably the
ECFTA and the Three Links. Both parties have also decided to discuss resolve crossstrait issues peacefully via economic agreement first. China has also given some
leeway to Taiwans international space when it allowed the latter to be an observer
member in the H1N1 WHA in mid 2009. However, this cordial relationship may not
last in the long-run, as President ma may only have another 6years in power.
Therefore, amiable cross-straits relations are really subjected to Taiwanese internal
policies.
In order to sustain its economic development, China has acted as a serious
competition, which is an undesired trait in the view of its regional competitors. Due
to 30years of continued rapid economic development China is now facing a serious
problem of energy depletion. In order to sustain the existing economic
development, China must search for more sources of energy. Therefore, it is now
venturing overseas to purchase fossil fuel and natural gas. During the search for
energy, China has inadvertently competed with major powers over energy
resources, which is also vital for their economic development. Besides, China has
also been engaging economically wit rogue nations, which is seen as an
undesirable alliance by the West. China has been competing with Japan and other
SEA nations over suspected fossil fuel deposits under the Senkaku Islands and the
Spratly Islands. Given the need to strengthen legitimacy via sustaining economic
growth, the Chinese government must source for fossil fuel from external sources,
which may incur the wrath of major powers. Nonetheless, it is also making effort in
looking for alternative sources of clean energy within its borders to reduce the
independence on other countries.

China has acted as a responsible economic and political regional power, yet its
emphasis on protecting its national interest has also been a stumbling block in
allowing her to fulfill the role of a full-fledged responsible member of the region.
While China is trying to build up its portfolio as a responsible power in the region, it
must also resolve many of its domestic challenges, as these issues may become a
serious hindrance in the future. However, current situation may seem to be in
Chinas favour, as relations with some of its neighbours warming. Furthermore, it is
also trying hard to resolve its domestic issues so as not to impact its efforts in
building up a positive image in the region.