China Engages Global Health Governance: a Stakeholder Or System-Transformer?

China Engages Global Health Governance: A Stakeholder or System-Transformer? Author Chan, Lai-Ha Published 2009 Thesis Type Thesis (PhD Doctorate) School Department of International Business and Asian Studies DOI https://doi.org/10.25904/1912/3156 Copyright Statement The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise. Downloaded from http://hdl.handle.net/10072/365278 Griffith Research Online https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au China Engages Global Health Governance: A Stakeholder or a System-Transformer? Lai-Ha CHAN BSocSc (Hons), MA Department of International Business and Asian Studies Griffith Business School Griffith University Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 18 August 2008 Abstract Through the lens of public health, in particular HIV/AIDS, this research first scrutinises China’s compliance with and resistance to the norms and rules embedded in the global health regime, and second, illustrates China’s evolving global role and its intentions for global governance. China’s response to its HIV/AIDS epidemic and its active engagement with the multilateral institutions of global health governance are attributable to both necessity and conscious design. While calling for and welcoming the involvement of multiple actors, a sine qua non for China’s continued engagement with global governance and global health governance is that they should be conducted in accordance with the principles of national sovereignty, non-intervention and territorial integrity. Overall, while China does not seek any radical transformation of the prevailing world order, its vision for the global order is not compatible with that espoused by the West which attaches much weight to liberal democratic values thereby justifying the notion and practice of humanitarian intervention. With a preference for a Westphalian model of governance, China is not a ‘responsible stakeholder’ in the liberal democratic order. Beijing advocates multilateral cooperation in a pluralist ‘harmonious world’ and argues that there is no fixed universal blueprint for development. China adopts a twin strategy in its relations with the outside world. On the one hand, it seeks to defend itself from the encroachment of liberal values while maintaining friendly relations with the leading powers of the West; and on the other, to shore up the principles of national sovereignty and non-intervention as well as strengthen ties with Third World countries so as to consolidate a normative and political bulwark against liberal democratic values on the world stage. i Statement of Originality This work has not previously been submitted for a degree or diploma in any university. To the best of my knowledge and belief, the thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the thesis itself. _________________________ Lai-Ha Chan ii Acknowledgements The road towards my academic pursuance has been bumpy. I am deeply indebted to four people for helping me to overcome all of the difficulties and setbacks. Without them, this thesis would not have been completed. Professor Michael Wesley, my supervisor, played an instrumental role in encouraging me to sharpen my conceptualisation of the theoretical aspect of this project. Professor Ronald Keith, my associate supervisor, challenged and thereby helped me refine my thinking of China’s behaviour with the rest of the world. Professor Gerald Chan guided me to the study of China’s foreign relations when I did my Master’s degree in New Zealand. Dr Pak K. Lee, my first mentor and staunchest supporter, whom I first came to know during my undergraduate days as one of my lecturers, has believed in me and encouraged me through all the ups and downs of my academic quest. I am truly indebted to them for all their academic guidance, encouragement and support during these years. Parts of this study have been published in various areas, including peer-reviewed journals, a book chapter and a monograph. They are: Contemporary Politics, vol. 14, no.1, March 2008; Global Public Health, vol. 4, no. 1, 2009 (forthcoming); Joseph Cheng, ed., Challenges and Policy Programmes of China’s New Leadership, Chapter 13 (Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong, 2007), and Griffith Asia Institute Regional Outlook series, No. 8, 2006. I have benefited enormously from cooperating with both Gerald Chan and Pak K. Lee on an on-going book project on China and global governance. Through the cooperation and discussion with them, my understanding of China’s foreign relations has increased by leaps and bounds in the past two years. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work with them. I also benefited from the feedbacks and comments I received from the participants in various conferences and seminars. They included the Australasian Political Studies Association Annual Conference, The Third Annual Graduate Conference on China at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Chinese Studies Association of Australia Biennial Conference, Griffith Asia Institute Research Seminars, and the Griffith Asia Institute China Policy Discussion Group. The comments directly or indirectly helped to crystallise the arguments I make in this research. Additionally, thanks go to Pak K. Lee for proofreading and commenting on all of the earlier drafts of my chapters, and iii to Richard Hutchinson for proofreading the final draft. Needless to say, the responsibility for any mistakes in this research is entirely mine. It is my pleasure to acknowledge Griffith Asia Institute for its generous scholarship which has provided me with adequate financial support to pursue my study in Australia. I also appreciate the funding contributions of the Department of International Business and Asian Studies, Griffith University, which allowed me to undertake two field trips to Beijing and Hong Kong throughout my candidature. My thanks also go to my colleagues and friends at Griffith Asia Institute, an excellent research centre nurturing enthusiastic and serious young scholars, for their friendship and enrichment of university life. I am also grateful to Vivian Dou, Li Youwen, Siu Hoiyin and Song Nan for their warm hospitality during my fieldwork in Beijing. They made my trips successful and enjoyable. Robyn White, Dai Zheng and Sue Pace assisted me with editing the tables and figures in this project. I am grateful to their kind assistance. Last but not least, this thesis is dedicated to my late parents, Chan Ying-Jor and Lok Chao-Chong, for their love, upbringing, inspiration, and confidence in me. Even though both had limited formal education, having grown up during some of China’s darkest years in disparaging literacy, they steadfastly supported me in my educational pursuit. I will love both of you forever. iv Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................. i Acknowledgements............................................................................................................................. iii Table of Figures ................................................................................................................................. vii Table of Tables .................................................................................................................................. vii List of Abbreviations and Acronyms ................................................................................................ viii Chinese Names of People Mentioned in the Text ................................................................................ x Chinese Terms Mentioned in the Text ............................................................................................... xii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1 Globalisation and Public Health .......................................................................................................... 4 Why China’s Public Health?................................................................................................................ 8 Hypothesis and Methodology ............................................................................................................ 20 Summary of Major Arguments .......................................................................................................... 25 The Organisation of the Remaining Chapters .................................................................................... 26 CHAPTER 2 GLOBAL GOVERNANCE AND GLOBAL ORDER 28 Global Governance and Global Order: Western Views ..................................................................... 29 The Structure and Transformation of Global Order ........................................................................... 44 China and Global Governance ........................................................................................................... 49 Chinese Understanding of Sovereignty in the 21st Century ............................................................... 66 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 76 CHAPTER 3 CHINA AND GLOBAL HEALTH REGIME 78 HIV/AIDS and the Elements of Global Health Regime .................................................................... 80 A Responsible Government in Health ..............................................................................................

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