Multilateralism, not multipolarity should be goal

First, global empirical trends defy old debates about polarity. The continued strength of the United States does not fit traditional concepts of multipolarity. At the same time, the world is too interdependent and other powers too influential to label the international system as unipolar.

Second, China is benefiting greatly from the stable international environment defined largely by the United States as the sole superpower. Chinese scholars point out that globalization under “one superpower and several great powers” (yichao duoqiang) is allowing China to focus on economic development and domestic reforms.

Third, China’s weight in international affairs has dramatically increased and Beijing is about to host the summer Olympics. A discourse on multipolarization is no longer needed for national pride as China overcomes its historical victimization.

Fourth, now that China has reclaimed its great power status, Beijing is not much interested in multipolarization if it means the rise of its rivals. China has reservations about the growing power of India and increasing assertiveness of Japan, and the desires of both countries to join the U.N. Security Council. China has also been careful to avoid a Russian resurgence in Central Asia and a unified ASEAN that excludes China.

Fifth, Beijing has found that talk of multilateralism makes for better public relations than calls for multipolarity. Multipolarity carries anti-American undertones and raises concerns among other states that a rising China may have revisionist intentions. Beijing has also witnessed there can be push back when a government that does not yet practice democracy at home calls for a more democratic order abroad.

Finally, focusing on multilateralism rather than multipolarity allows greater ideological coherence for China’s foreign policy. Multipolarity, anti-hegemonism and non-interference are the old concepts of a relatively weak and isolated China. The new concepts of a strong and globally engaged China — peaceful rise (heping jueqi), win-win diplomacy (shuangying waijiao), and harmonious world (hexie shijie) — are more consistent with multilateralism, not multipolarity.

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