This document is downloaded from DR‑NTU (https://dr.ntu.edu.sg) Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Relative power and China’s policy on United Nations peacekeeping operations Gong, Lina 2016 Gong, L. (2016). Relative power and China’s policy on United Nations peacekeeping operations. Doctoral thesis, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. https://hdl.handle.net/10356/69075 https://doi.org/10.32657/10356/69075 Downloaded on 25 Sep 2021 01:19:52 SGT Relative Power and China’s Policy on United Nations Peacekeeping Operations Gong Lina S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Thesis submitted to the Nanyang Technological University in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2016 I Acknowledgements I would like to thank all those who have given me support and help during my PhD study. I am extremely grateful for my supervisor, Professor Mely Caballero- Anthony, whose guidance, encouragement and care have helped me through the most difficult time when I was writing the thesis. No word is sufficient to express my gratitude to her. My special thanks go to my co-supervisor Professor Li Mingjiang for all his advice, inspiration and support. I would like to thank Ambassador Ong Keng Yong for his kind help in the final stage of my PhD research. I also thank my colleagues at the RSIS NTS Centre, Dr. Alistair Cook and Ms Ong Suet Yen, who provided invaluable suggestions for my study and research. I greatly appreciate the help from Roxane, Yee Ming, and Jean for their assistance. My heartfelt thanks go to my family and friends whose company and tolerance has given me enormous strength and courage in time of frustration and hardship. II Table of Contents Table of Charts, Figures and Map .......................................................................... V Abbreviations ........................................................................................................ VII Abstract ................................................................................................................... IX Chapter I Rising China and its Evolving Policy on UN Peacekeeping ................. 1 1.1 China’s Growing Power and Implications for Foreign Policy ......................... 1 1.1.1 Growth of China’s National Power ...................................................... 1 1.1.2 Impacts of China’s Rise on its Foreign Policy ..................................... 5 1.1.3 Sovereignty – Bottom-line of China’s International Engagement ......... 8 1.2 Research Design ........................................................................................ 11 1.2.1 Objectives of the Study ..................................................................... 11 1.2.2 Research Question ........................................................................... 12 1.2.3 Argument .......................................................................................... 20 1.2.4 Variables .......................................................................................... 20 1.2.5 Hypotheses ...................................................................................... 29 1.3 Research Methods ..................................................................................... 30 1.3.1 Process Tracing ............................................................................... 30 1.3.2 Archival Research and Data Collection ............................................. 31 1.3.3 Interviews ......................................................................................... 31 1.3.4 Case Studies .................................................................................... 32 1.4 Contributions and Limitations...................................................................... 35 1.4.1 Contributions .................................................................................... 35 1.4.2 Limitations ........................................................................................ 36 1.5 Organization of the Thesis .......................................................................... 37 Chapter II Literature Review ................................................................................. 43 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 43 2.2 Gaps in the Existing Theoretical Frameworks ............................................. 45 I 2.2.1 The Image of a Responsible Power .................................................. 46 2.2.2 Socialization ..................................................................................... 49 2.2.3 Realist and Pragmatic Explanations ................................................. 52 2.3 Neoclassical Realism and the Two-Level Analytical Framework ................. 58 2.3.1 Theoretical Basis: Neoclassical Realism .......................................... 59 2.3.2 The Two-Level Analysis .................................................................... 65 2.3 Review of Empirical Facts .......................................................................... 77 2.3.1 Voting Record (1971-2013) .............................................................. 78 2.3.2 Official Statements (1971-2013) ....................................................... 82 2.3.3 Troop Contribution ............................................................................ 86 2.3.4 Capabilities and Constraints ............................................................. 89 2.4 Key Issues Related to China’s Participation in UNPKOs ............................. 92 2.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 95 Chapter III Evolution of China’s Peacekeeping Policy: A Historical Overview . 97 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 97 3.2 Maneuvering the East-West Confrontation and Reservation over UN Peacekeeping (1971-1989) .............................................................................. 98 3.2.1 Non-participation in the 1970s .......................................................... 98 3.2.2 Support in Principle in the 1980s .................................................... 101 3.3 Redistribution of World Power and China’s Symbolic Contribution (1989- 2000) .............................................................................................................. 104 3.3.1 Beginning of Personnel Contribution............................................... 104 3.3.2 Distribution of World Power after the Cold War ............................... 105 3.3.3 Concern for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity ............................. 108 3.3.4 Low Vulnerability to External Risks ................................................. 110 3.3.5 Limited Ambition for International Role ........................................... 112 3.4 Rise of China and Constructive Involvement in Peacekeeping (2000s onwards) ........................................................................................................ 112 3.4.1 Expanding Contribution to International Peace Efforts – From peacekeeping to peacemaking ................................................................ 112 II 3.4.2 Stronger Systemic Pressure for Cooperative Behaviors ................. 116 3.4.3 Increasing Vulnerability to Foreign Crises ....................................... 120 3.4.4 Greater activism in Norm-building and Agenda-setting ................... 124 3.4.5 Improved Security of Sovereignty ................................................... 126 3.5 Conclusion ................................................................................................ 128 Chapter IV Timor-Leste – Beginning of China’s Increasing Contribution ....... 132 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 132 4.2 Path to Independence .............................................................................. 134 4.3 The UN Peacekeeping Operations ........................................................... 136 4.3.1 Post-independence Challenges ...................................................... 136 4.3.2 UNTAET ......................................................................................... 137 4.4 China and the East Timor Issues .............................................................. 138 4.4.1 China’s Relations with East Timor .................................................. 138 4.4.2 Chinese Contribution and Assistance ............................................. 142 4.4.3 The Importance of the East Timor Case in China’s Peacekeeping History ..................................................................................................... 144 4.5 Understanding China’s Shift in Approach ................................................. 149 4.5.1 China as a Rising Power ................................................................ 149 4.5.2 Systemic Incentives for Changes .................................................... 152 4.5.3 Domestic Assessment of China’s Capabilities and Interests ........... 156 4.6 Policy Adjustments ................................................................................... 162 4.7 Conclusion ................................................................................................ 166 Chapter V South Sudan – China Becoming a Constructive Contributor ......... 169 5.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................