On 21 June 2004, the IISS in collaboration with The Economist newspaper held an evening debate at Arundel House on the topic ‘China in the 21st century: Rival or Partner?’. The debate drew a large audience of IISS members and readers of the Economist, whose Asia Editor, Christopher Lockwood, chaired the event.
The discussion ranged widely over economic and security issues, China’s foreign policy posture and the terms of its engagement with the outside world.
Leading off the debate, Jia Qingguo of Peking University stressed China’s wish to be a partner to the international community. He cited constructive elements of China’s diplomacy and its contribution to the global economy. But he cautioned that partnership could not amount to subservience to the wishes of others. Much would ultimately depend on the willingness of the outside world to respect China’s interests on issues of national sovereignty and especially the matter of Taiwan.
Adam Ward, IISS Senior Fellow for East Asian Security, highlighted the structural impulse towards competition in the relationship between China and the US, while noting that this rivalry was still fairly parochial and more implied than explicit.
Zhang Wei of Cambridge University felt that China’s ability to be either a meaningful partner or rival would ultimately depend on its ability to overcome huge internal challenges, which was far from assured.
By contrast, Dr Gerard Lyons, Chief Economist at Standard Chartered Bank argued that China was unequivocally a partner in economic terms, being increasingly at the centre of global production and supply chains and a vital source of growth in the international economy.
