The Impetus Of China's Diplomatic Policy-Making

In terms of domestic background,there are two points to mention.On the one hand,in-system actors and organizations that take part in policy making have become more diverse;on the other hand,people's educational level and their participation consciousness in state affairs have improved remarkably,so people also pay attention to many significant diplomatic policy issues.The senior leaders in China are also restricted a lot by many elements while making diplomatic policy.Thus,in order to achieve the specific goals effectively,the diplomatic policy they make should also be legitimate.As to the impetuses of China's diplomatic policy,the discussion about the importance of winning alliance in "The Selectorate Theory" provides us with a unique perspective,which can explain the changes in China's important diplomatic policy since new China was established.Under the particular background,China's senior leaders have different degrees' restriction in diplomatic policy making.The problem of legalization had important influence on the tendency of China's diplomatic policy both in Mao Zedong era and in Deng Xiaoping era.Throughout Mao Zedong era,Mao won absolute authority in diplomatic policy making by his great personal prestige as well as the ample diplomatic experience that he accumulated during the revolutionary war years.Even though he resigned from his leading post later,he was still endowed with the final decision-making power when it comes to significant matters of principle.However,Mao was also faced with the problem of policy legalization,which played a critical role in the course of the normalization of Sino-American relationship.With respect to legalization,one of its objects is the public at home and abroad,and the other more important object is incumbent senior leaders.Mao had his own strategic considerations about how to deal with the relationship between America and the Soviet Union all the time.With the ability to make his strategic considerations legitimate,he wanted to realize his strategic ideas in order to lay an important foundation for achieving the normalization of Sino-American relationship.Similarly,Deng Xiaoping also gained the authoritative place in the diplomatic decision-making field via his prestige and rich diplomatic experience in his era.But different from Mao Zedong,Deng had to take the so-called "Senior Leader Atmosphere" into account while making diplomatic decisions."Senior Leader Atmosphere" refers to the opposed as well as the supportive opinions of the central government leaders,including senior statesman such as Chen Yun,Li Xian'nian and so on.In order to make sure that his diplomatic ideas could be put into effect,he must get support from the "Senior Leader Atmosphere",or at least their neutralizing attitude.After the early 1990s,Deng was greatly confined in diplomatic decision-making,making it difficult to effectively carry forward his strategic idea of the reform and opening-up.To continue realizing his diplomatic ideas,Deng chose to start his "South Tour.Speech" in 1992.Through a series of measures,he finally managed to legitimize his idea about accelerating the push of reform and opening-up policy.