Why Alliance: A Probe Into The Evolution Of New China's Cognition And Practice Of Alliance Diplomacy From The Perspective Of International Comparison

This paper can be summarized as one core and two dimensions: firstly,taking the People's Republic of China's cognition and practice of alliance diplomacy as the noumenon,its motive,achievements and lessons as the core;secondly,taking the ancient Chinese tribute system and covenant relations under the special situation as the longitudinal dimension;and thirdly,taking the Western and the third world countries' cognition and practical experience of alliance diplomacy as the latitudinal dimension.The PRC has successively formed a short-term alliance with the Soviet Union,an alliance with North Korea—in name only—and a “quasi-alliance” with the United States.Although new China has held different attitudes towards alliance diplomacy in various historical periods,its original intention of opposing both an invasion of sovereignty and of garrison control,while demanding equal relations,has remained unchanged.Throughout most of its history,ancient China exchanged with surrounding areas through the tribute system,and only in a very few cases was ancient China forced to make a covenant with neighboring ethnic groups.On the other hand,the colonial system was first established in the West,which later evolved it into an alliance system.Compared with the colonial system,the alliance system,though more “civilized”,actually hides an unequal relationship through its exquisitely designed system and structure.In other words,its essence is still control and exploitation.Other third world countries have faced the problem of whether or not to form alliances after the end of World War II.Among these third world countries,some chose to form alliances with powerful countries,such as Iran with the United States and Syria with the Soviet Union.Others,such as Egypt,Yugoslavia,and India,nominally stuck to "non-alignment" policies;but,in fact,they had successively formed substantive alliances with either the United States or the Soviet Union.However,no matter whether they had been allied or not,the third world countries were never given the opportunity to independently explore their own development model in line with their own national conditions.So far,these countries have not formed a complete industrial chain to achieve their national modernization.In the final analysis,although the PRC was forced into alliance,China will not form a new alliance at present,and will foster state-to-state relationships based on partnership rather than alliance.The United States is still clinging to its alliances,but it cannot stop the tide of the world.Under the current circumstances,China has promoted a new model of major-country relations,featuring dialogue,non-confrontation,partnership,and non-alliance,put forth as the Belt and Road Initiative,so as to build a Community of Shared Future for Mankind.