China’s National Security Strategy and China-EU Security Relations

A lecture by Professor Xia Liping, entitled China’s National Security Strategy and China-EU Security Relations. 11 november 2014 Corvinus University of Budapest, Building E, Auditorium III. Professor Xia Liping, dean of the School of Political Science and International Relations of Tongji University, Shanghai held a lecture on 11 November as part of AJKC’s Foreign and Security Policy First-hand programme series, entitled China’s National Security Strategy and China-EU Security Relations. He mainly specialises in global governance, Asian security, nuclear non-proliferation and Chinese foreign policy. His newest books are the following: Contemporary International System and Strategic Relations among Major Powers, Peaceful rise of China and Security and Arms Control in the Asia-Pacific Region. Prof. Xia gave an overall view on Chinese security policy in his presentation. He stated that the major objective of China is to realise modernisation and become a mid-level developed country by 2050. To achieve this goal, China needs a long-term peaceful and stable international environment that can bolster its peaceful economic and social development. China’s new security concept aims to enhance mutual cooperation and coordination, and to reduce confrontation factors to replace the “zero-sum” rule with a “win-win” model. Regarding the South China Sea and the East China Sea, China seeks to resolve the dispute over territorial and maritime rights, and engages in the joint exploration of oil and natural gas with other countries in the area. The professor emphasised, that these sovereignty issues should be solved through bilateral negotiation, as the involvement of the United States to balance the region has complicated the situation. In his summary of China-EU security relations the professor pointed out the EU arms embargo on China as the most significant barrier in the two powers’ relation.