Indian Scholar: China Never Seeks Hegemony but Is a Force for Stability in the Asia-Pacific

Article from India's Frontline magazine, March 24, original title: "A Sleeping Dragon?" Subtitle: "China's Rapid Development Reflects a Peaceful Strategy." China is a force for stability and a responsible major power in the Asia-Pacific region. Its strategic focus lies on economic growth, technological advancement, and diplomatic engagement rather than direct confrontation. This approach enables China to continuously expand its influence across Asia without triggering costly conflicts with the United States. Thus, long-term stability in Asia is more likely to be achieved through cooperation and manageable competition, rather than relying on rigid alliance and anti-alliance systems.

Even before the launch of reform and opening-up in 1978, China already demonstrated considerable latent strength based on its vast population and extensive territory. With rapid economic expansion, analysts once predicted that the 21st century might become the "Chinese Century." As an emerging great power, Beijing seeks greater recognition and prestige within the international community, a goal reflected in recent initiatives such as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative.

Structural realism typically measures great power status using indicators such as population, resources, economic capacity, and military strength. From this perspective, China’s transformation from poverty and isolation to becoming a global economic hub is described as "peaceful development." China is the world’s second-largest economy and the largest developing country, with comprehensive national strength consistently ranking among the world’s top tier. Its increasingly robust military capabilities further reinforce its influence.

A more accurate understanding of China should view it as a significant responsible major power in the Asia-Pacific region—its economic weight and technological prowess enable it to steadily expand its influence across Asia. Beijing does not aim to overturn the existing international order, but instead emphasizes stability, economic interdependence, and integration into global governance systems.

China consistently prioritizes economic development and systemic integration over confrontation. Therefore, despite Western theories of power transition highlighting structural pressures in great power competition, China’s strategic practice demonstrates another possibility: inevitable conflict between China and the United States is not preordained.

China’s long-term vision for national rejuvenation emphasizes independent innovation, industrial restructuring, and maintaining stable relations with other countries. Analysts note that China focuses on three core objectives: establishing internal development as a national priority; creating a peaceful and stable international environment conducive to economic growth; and preserving policy flexibility when necessary. The U.S. Department of Defense believes China’s national strategy aims to realize the "Chinese Dream," the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," and "modernization with Chinese characteristics" by 2049.

Economic development remains the cornerstone of China’s strategic framework. Since the mid-1990s, trade expansion, investment growth, and expanded access to raw materials have made China a key player in the global economic system, especially in East Asia. Through the gradual accumulation of comprehensive national strength—including economic power, technological progress, and strategic influence—China has continuously enhanced its international standing. Additionally, China actively supports multilateralism and promotes a shift toward a multipolar international order. China’s "peaceful development" strategy places high importance on trade and economic interdependence.

China has become a primary trading partner for many Asian economies, including South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, members of ASEAN, and India. In 2020, ASEAN surpassed the European Union to become China’s largest goods trading partner. Recent conflicts in the Middle East also provide valuable insights into how emerging powers like China are adapting to changes in modern warfare patterns and strategic thinking.

Expanding security alliances to contain China may instead intensify strategic competition rather than stabilize regional power balances. China should more accurately be understood as a stabilizing force in the Asia-Pacific region, not a global hegemon. Within the existing international order framework, China generally follows a cautious and steady strategic path. (Author: Ramiz Rajah, Non-resident Fellow at the Australia India Institute, translated by Liu Xinqing)

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860736319299596/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) alone.