On June 25, 2022, the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) of Tsinghua University held its mid-year seminar themed “China’s Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific Region amid New Dynamics,” convening around 20 academic members, fellows and experts. CISS Director Da Wei, Deputy Director Xiao Qian, Nonresident Senior Fellow An Gang and Senior Fellow Zhou Bo served as moderators for different sessions of the event.
In addition, Liu Jinsong, director-general of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, was invited to provide an internal briefing on the overall landscape in Asia, situations in different directions and countries, and the outcomes of China’s neighborhood diplomacy. He compared notes with other panelists on various issues of concern, and called for more thorough research into China’s peripherals from a strategic and holistic perspective and for more active proposals for China’s major country diplomacy in the new era. He also encouraged the panelists to take the initiative to enhance international communication, so as to promote mutual understanding, trust and cooperation between China and its neighbors.
The seminar was structured into three sessions: “China in the Asia-Pacific,” “China’s strategic choices in the Asia-Pacific” and “Recommendations on countermeasures.” Taking stock of the regional order, security landscape, economic structure, major power relations, hotspot issues and recent major events, panelists explored the transformation that is taking place in the Asia-Pacific after the Cold War and how it will evolve as well as the challenges and opportunities for China. They also looked back on how the region managed to maintain peace and development after the Cold War, examined the main consensus and concerns of China’s neighboring countries, and shared their insights on China’s key interests in the region amid the new dynamics, its advantages and objectives in exerting influence as well as the strategies it should adopt.
The discussants believe that the Asia-Pacific region, now the heart of global economic growth, still faces complexity and uncertainty as it navigates acute traditional and non-traditional security challenges, the great-power strategic competition unilaterally initiated by the United States, and various endogenous issues within the region. As it stands at yet another crossroads—towards peace and development, or towards polarization and division—China’s choice will be crucial to where the region is headed. This requires deeper understanding of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, implementation of the “community with a shared future for humankind,” and commitment to justice and integrity. It also requires us to ride the tide of regional dynamics and listen to the voice of the people, so that we can take the initiative to build an “Asia-Pacific community with a shared future” with our neighbors and create a favorable regional environment for national rejuvenation as well as an inclusive, sustainable, prosperous and secure Asia.
In his concluding remarks, Professor Da Wei said that it is extremely necessary to study China’s strategic choices in the Asia-Pacific amid the new dynamics, and that CISS is committed to promoting communication, analyzing regional developments and pooling constructive ideas through its internal seminars, as an effort to contribute to China’s neighborhood and overall diplomacy in the new era.
In May and June 2022, CISS held a seminar marathon on “Asia-Pacific Landscape,” in which over 60 experts and scholars from different fields and disciplines shared their insights in eight seminars. This mid-year event brought the series to a successful conclusion.