The Post-Cold War Laos’ Foreign Policy Toward China And Its Determinants

On April 25,1961, Laos and China officially established the diplomatic relations. In the beginning, Laos implemented a friendly policy towards China. In the late 1970s, under the pressure of global environment and the change in Indo-China situation, Laos had to adopt the policy of "close to Vietnam, depend on the Soviet Union and alienate China"; therefore Laos and China suspended their contacts, but no conflict between them. Up to the late 1980s, the relations between the two countries began to recovery. End of Cold War, along with the changes of international environment, as well as the changes in Laos’s domestic situation, the Lao Government actively adjusted its foreign policy toward China.After the end of Cold War, the development of bilateral relations is gradually accelerated. Especially in the 21st century, the two countries carry out comprehensive exchanges in political, economy, social culture and many other fields, which promote Laos to develop vigorously. To this day, Laos pursues the policy of "long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation" toward China; while there are some potential, unstable, direct or indirect problems which interfere with the implementation of this policy, For example, Laos own problems, the problems between Laos and china relationship, the special relationship between Laos and Vietnam, Japan courting Southeast Asia against China, the geopolitical economic and social unrest in ASEAN countries and especially in recent year the United States back to Asia-Pacific, etc. Hence, researching and analyzing history and these interference factors thoroughly, in order to positively search corresponding solutions and countermeasures, will certainly bring assistance to Sino-Lao relations, promote the development of bilateral relations, bring benefits to both peoples and make contribution to world peace.This paper from four parts to analyze the post-Cold War Laos’Foreign Policy toward China and its determinants. In Brief Introduction of Laos’ Foreign Policy History towards China, Specification and Analysis of Laos’Policy to China after Cold War and Current Bilateral Relations, and Analysis of the Domestic and Overseas determinant factors with Laos’s Current Policy to China, Finally, will analyze the trends of Laos’Foreign Policy toward China and the Prospects of Sino-Lao Relationship.As two neighboring countries, Laos and China have a long history without any serious conflict or outstanding contradiction in all ages. From Laos Revolution time to end of the Cold War, Laos’Foreign Policy toward China have experienced a history from friendly to estrange and to restore. This part, Brief Introduction of 1954 to 1990 Laos’Foreign Policy History towards China.After the end of Cold War, along with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the drastic changes in Eastern Europe, the relation improvement between China and Vietnam and the declining influence of Vietnam in Laos, as well as the downturn and backwardness in Laos’s domestic economy, Laos had to change its strategy towards China; with the rise of China, Laos adopted a friendly policy to its relations with China. After entering the 21st century, the two countries established a "long-term and stable comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation". The change of foreign policy towards China is a timely and wise move adopted by the Lao Government in new era after the Cold War, which has promoted Laos’s social and economic development. This part, Specification and Analysis of Laos’Foreign Policy toward China after Cold War and Current Bilateral Relations.In formulating foreign policy, each country will not only consider its own interest, but also be affected by the relevant countries in different level; Laos is no exception. Besides, there are more and higher difficulties regarding to this landlocked country with relatively backward economy. Under the Laos own problems, the problems between Laos and china relationship, the existing "special relations" between Laos and Vietnam, Japan courting Southeast Asia, the regional pressure of ASEAN and the United States back to Asia-Pacific, all these factors interfere with Laos’s Current Policy to China. This part, Analysis of the Domestic and Overseas determinant factors with Laos’s Current Policy to China.Regarding to overcoming and resisting all kinds of internal and external determinant factors and difficulties in formulating the policy to China, the Lao Government pursues multidirectional and multilevel foreign exchanges, insists on the neutral policy without choosing a side or occupying a standpoint, and commits to domestic economic construction and development. This part, Response to the determinants factors Laos’ foreign Policy toward China and Prospect the Development Trend of Sino-Lao Relations.