Roundup: China reiterates never seeking hegemony

A White Paper released by the Information Office of the State Council on Thursday reiterated that China will never seek hegemony and will remain forever a staunch force for safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

Entitled "China's Endeavors for Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation", the White Paper said the Chinese nation loves peace and maintains that nothing is more valuable than peace and all nations should live in peace and harmony.

"Subjected to untold external aggression and repression in its modern history, China fully understands how precious peace is. At present, the Chinese people are concentrating on development and nation-building along a road of peaceful development," the White Paper said.

Going through four amendments to the Constitution, China has enshrined "anti-hegemonism" in the forward of its fundamental law for more than 20 years.

"It not only shows that China opposes hegemonism, but also reflects China's determination not to seek hegemony," Wang Lei with the prestigious Beijing University told Xinhua on Thursday.

"Among the big countries in the world, China is the only one having the courage to write "anti-hegemonism" into its Constitution," said Wang, an expert on constitutional research.

It also reflects China's independent foreign policy of peace, and efforts to build a new order in international relations which is equal and fair, said Wang.

China first enshrined anti-hegemonism in its Constitution in 1982 during the Cold War period in regard to the international environment and changes of domestic situation at that time, Wang said.

During the 1970's, a stalemate between the two superpowers of the United States and former Soviet Union was formed. In order to exist in the narrow space between the two superpowers, China adjusted its foreign policy and would not ally with any country, Wang said.

In April of 1974, former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, on behalf of Chinese government and people, expressed China's determination not to seek hegemony forever at the 6th Special Session of the United Nation's General Assembly.

"China is not a superpower, nor will she ever seek to be one," said Deng. "If one day China should change her color and turn into a superpower, if she too should play the tyrant in the world, and everywhere subject others to her bullying, aggression and exploitation, the people of the world should identify her as social-imperialism, expose it, oppose it and work together with the Chinese people to overthrow it."

Deng's speech drew long time applauses at the assembly room.

Zhang Hongyi, a professor with the History Department of Beijing Normal University, said Deng's speech has well expressed the Chinese nation's will and determination to oppose hegemonism, and is also an in-depth understanding of the dialectic relation of China's domestic and foreign policies.

"For a real socialist country, its essence of serving the people should be reflected consistently in its domestic and foreign policies," said Zhang.

"As a matter of fact, there is no other big country in the world having the courage like China to announce its determination to oppose hegemonism with so clear words," Zhang said.

The principle also became the foundation of making the constitution in 1982.

In early 1980's, China was walking out the shadow of the "Cultural Revolution" and entering the period of reform and opening-up. China adopted an independent foreign policy of peace and made efforts to help relax international tensions.

Anti-hegemonism and maintaining world peace was regarded as the basic goal of developing foreign relations. At the same time, China made efforts to create a peaceful exterior environment for domestic economic and social development. The enshrinement of "anti-hegemonism" in the Constitution drew wide approval from the Chinese society.

Zhang added that China took part in a series of international disarmament activities over the past two decades. By 1987, China cut down one million armed forces, or a quarter of former military total.

China has also converted a large number of factories manufacturing military products to civilian use, and reduced the defense expenditure at a large scale to relax international tensions, said Zhang.

It was also during that period China, Britain and Portugal solved the issues of Hong Kong and Macao by means of peaceful talks. Anti-hegemonism and sticking to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence has become the guiding line for China to develop relations with all countries, Zhang said.

Liu Wenzong, professor of international law with the Foreign Affairs College, said there have been many countries in history seeking to dominate the world.

"One of the characteristics of a hegemonic country is that its interest is the most important, and other countries are not allowed to voice different opinions," Liu said.

Some countries, still pursuing hegemony policy, are reluctant to see other countries growing up. They would try their best to restrain the development of the imagined enemies, said Liu.

The announcement of not seeking hegemony is also in line with China's national interests, Liu said.

"If a war is launched, the victims are always the people of the warring countries," said Liu.

The main purpose of China's foreign policies is to maintain world peace, which is also in accordance with the spirit of the UN Charter, Liu added.

Source: Xinhua