Chinese Foreign Policy Toward Central Asia: Central Asia Within a Normative Framework of Chinese Foreign Policy

Abstract

A survey of the literature demonstrates that China's foreign policy towards Central Asia is shaped by its economic power and the normative framework it constructs and projects. Nathalie Tocci and Ian Manners provide a comparative normative framework which informs the foreign policies of a variety of state actors, including China. Using this framework, we see that China places a greater emphasis on 'mutual respect' than 'rule of law', and the rights of sovereign states than the individual. Though this framework does not fully correspond to accepted Western notions of what is 'normal', China does share norms with Central Asian states, particularly those states and in those spheres where it has compatible interests. This thesis argues that China aligns its normative means with the normative ends it seeks - shaping the normative behavior of Central Asian states is a strategic goal of China. China's economic and development agenda in Central Asia brings material as well as ideational benefits to China. The thesis argues that in the security sphere though goals may not be purely normative, means are normative, and the impact is mutually beneficial. In the economic, energy, developmental and infrastructural spheres, especially where China relates to the region via multilateral form, there is an even heavier emphasis on normative means (dialogue, diplomacy, mutual respect, negotiations) to achieve normative goals (development of the CA region, stability and peace) and this results in a normative impact (construction of pipelines, building infrastructure, developing trade). Except CA that fits well within the normative framework of Chinese foreign policy, there is another case such as Angola that demonstrates the “universality” of norms in Chinese terms. In both cases China shows stability in its approach what makes rethink universally accepted norms. In its conclusion the paper hypothesizes that even in the context of the US strategic pivot to Asia-Pacific China will continue to strengthen its cooperation with Central Asian Republics in order to fulfill its vital needs and to demonstrate its non-assertive foreign policy strategy. As a result, China's normative foreign policy approach will dominate bilateral relations - CA has an important place in normative framework of Chinese foreign policy.