China's Identity Constrction As A Responsible Power

According to Constructivism, the nation is the entity with identity and interest. Moreover, the national interest of a country is not invariable; it is formed by the national identity definition in international society. The national identity decides the bound of the national interest, and the national interest decides the external activities of the country. Making a general observation of today world, with the irreversible trend of globalization and the more frequent interactions among nations, the situation of having each other has been formed. The national identity as an in-depth concept will have profound effects on the national interest and foreign policy. That's to say, to define national identity is the important start for understanding national interest and national actions, and it is of significant theoretical value and practical meaning to study the national identity.After cold war, the international relationship has been undergone the profound readjustment; the international order has been in the transition and reconstruction; also the relation and role of nations has been redefined. To establish a national identity which accords with self-strength conforms to the historical trend and the future developing direction of the international order becomes an important task of China diplomacy. Based on it, in the middle 1990s, the Chinese government gave a formal announcement of "acting as a responsible great power in international community" and started to build this new national identity at theoretic and practical level. On the one hand, China has brought forward a series of ideas in accordance with international law and generally-accepted principles of international relations, such as new security concept, mutual benefit and win-win effect, world multiplarzation, the democratization of international relations, harmonious world, peaceful development and so on; on the other hand, China has strengthened interactions with international community in practice, properly handled its relationship with main great powers and nation groups, continuously increased the aid for the developing countries, pushed forward Asia Regionalism Strategy, actively participated in multilateral international mechanism, and vigorously promoted the settlement of global issues. In a word, since the middle 1990s, China has continuously enhanced its sense of responsibility, defined its responsibility more clearly and undertaken its responsibility more rationally.China's initiative to act as a responsible great power is not only necessary for it to better integrate into the international community, set up a good image and safeguard its national interest, but also to respond to western countries'calling for "China's Responsibility" and clear away the international society's worries over China's Rise. In recent years, with the rise of China's national strength and fast-pace towards globalization, how China uses its newly-gained power has drawn increasing attention from international community. Some western countries start to urge China to take on more international responsibilities and attempts to incorporate China into the international system dominated by them through China Responsibility Theory. It is safe to say, China Responsibility Theory not only indicates international community's justifiable expectation for a bigger role of China, but also conceals the conspiracy of the western hostile power to restrain China's rise. To be honest, from China Threat Theory to China Responsibility Theory, western countries have indeed changed their view towards China, but this is only an apparent and unessential change. Yet the west goes on imposing pressure on China using the equivocal word "responsibility", showing their complicated feeling of unhappiness and unwillingness towards China's rise.In all, China Responsibility Theory is a double-edged sword so that we need to distinguish and cope with its complicated connotation carefully and prudently. Although the idea of "acting as a responsible great power" put forward by China has something in common with China Responsibility Theory claimed by the west, they have essential differences in starting point, connotation and purpose. In the new era, China Responsibility Theory proposed by western countries is different from the China Threat Theory which they had advanced to stir up trouble before. If China ignores it, many developing countries may be disappointed and the western great power will further doubt whether China can rise peacefully or not. If China takes on the international responsibility as the western countries demand, China will operate overload or even break down so that the peaceful development road will stop midway. So, how to respond to China Responsibility Theory has become a new test for China diplomacy in the new era. As an objective beneficiary of current international system, China should undertake the corresponding international responsibility with its further-expanding national interest and ever-increasing nation power. This is the inevitable choice of China on its way towards the great power. However, we must grasp the discourse power of our international responsibility, define the responsibility scope, make the definite decision and learn to undertake the international responsibility through cooperation and coordination with all nations.To reasonably define China's international responsibility, the first task is to know about the developing stage of China. In recent years, the rapid rise of China is an indisputable fact. However, we have to clearly see the fact that China still has a long way to go before turning into a great power of the world. This paper defines China as a state in the transition period from a regional power to a world power. The explicit definition is conducive for us to shoulder proper international responsibility in diplomatic practice. General speaking, the current responsibility of China as a great power involves the following four aspects:firstly, setting a good example and maintaining the stability and development of China itself; secondly, serving as a participator, vindicator and builder of present international order; thirdly, safeguarding world peace and promoting common development; fourthly, working together to meet the common challenges of humankind. Based on the above content, this paper puts forward the strategic route to build up China's identity as a responsible great power at national, regional and international levels. At national level, we shall transform the pattern of economic development and build the two-oriented society; we shall deepen the reform of systems and mechanisms and build up harmonious society; we shall advocate the cultural values of China and raise the soft national power by cultural diplomacy; and also we shall enhance international communication and create a positive national image. At regional level, we need to consistently pursue the good neighbor policy, strengthen the regional political cooperation; promote economic prosperity on the platform of regional cooperation; build the security cooperation mechanism to shape the regional peaceful environment; expand the regional culture exchange and build the regional culture identity. At international level, we should improve the foreign aid mechanism, raise the effect of the foreign aid; actively advocate and fulfill the new security concept, deepen cooperation in the field of non-traditional security issues; vigorously promote the partner strategy, seriously coordinate the relationship between great powers; strive to develop the multilateral diplomacy and participate in the construction of international institutions.Nowadays, the international system is in an important transition period. It not only brings great opportunity for China to build its identity as a responsible great power, but also brings about severe challenges. Although at present China has had relative strong hard power and readiness to undertake international responsibility, the differences in regime and ideology between China and the western countries, the deficiency of China's soft power, inadequate maturity of the national mood and the imperfection of public diplomacy mechanism are the obstacles that China has to stride across on its road towards a responsible great power. For China, a great developing country, to build up its identity as a responsible great power is filled with conflicts and complexity, and a lot of important relationship needs to handle properly, for example, the relationship between responsible great power and other national identities, the relationships among self-strength, self-development and the ability to undertake international responsibility, the relationship between building the identity as a responsible great power and concealing the true intentions. Thus, at the present stage, China needs to adhere to the following principles while undertaking international responsibilities:in terms of the form of responsibilities, the mental responsibility is more important than physical responsibility; as for the scope of 'responsibility, focus on regional responsibility, supplemented by the global responsibility; in the aspect of the responsibility-taking means, multilateral cooperation is the primary means, less relying on unilateral and bilateral means; establish China's view towards international responsibility by combining the national interest with international interest.In conclusion, the process will be long and tortuous for China to march towards the world. At present, China's road towards a responsible great power is only a start. Striving for peace, promoting development and pursuing cooperation are the main theme of the times and the great aspirations of people around the world. Confronted with the current opportunities and challenges, at home we should continue to stick to the peaceful development, fulfill our tasks, speed up the construction of harmonious society; on the world scene, we should strengthen international cooperation and contribute to build a world of lasting peace and common prosperity. This is the most sacred and greatest responsibility for China to undertake for the world and the people of all countries.