China shies away from role as global power (News Feature)

By Andreas Landwehr Mar 14, 2010, 14:06 GMT

Beijing - China prefers not to view itself as a global power that needs to take more responsibility in world politics, according to a wordy press statement from Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday following the annual meeting of China's National People's Congress.

But reality and spin collided at times Sunday as Wen struggled to convince that China is not the world's newest superpower.

China is a developing country with a 'weak economic basis,' Wen said. Gaps between rich cities such as Beijing or Shanghai and the poor rural areas remains wide.

'It might still take 100 years to transform China into a modern country,' the prime minister said, speaking under gigantic chandeliers in a splendid room of the Great Hall of the People.

As the Congress wound down, Wen kept a remarkably low profile. However, his picture of a poor China struggling with domestic troubles does not correspond to its rising influence.

China just surpassed Germany as the world's leading export country and it set to push Japan from its rank as the world's second biggest economy in the months ahead.

A host of global issues, including work on an agreement to control climate change, the establishment of a new financial order, unblocking a stuck world trade round or reaching agreement on the quarrel over Iran's nuclear programme cannot be solved without Chinese cooperation. In the UN Security Council, China has been a veto power from the beginning.

'China is now a global power,' a report by the European Council on Foreign Relations states. 'Decisions taken in Beijing are central to virtually all the EU's pressing global concerns, whether climate change, nuclear proliferation, or rebuilding economic stability.'

The paper does not relieve the Communist leaders in Beijing of their responsibility. 'China has become too rich and too powerful to continue operating under the radar.'

But China hesitates to play the role of a 'responsible stakeholder.'

The dispute over new sanctions against Iran or questions about Chinese policy on Africa show a country that pursues its own interests.

'China is a responsible country,' says Wen. The Chinese leaders often rebut requests for greater responsibility, claiming that China already makes a great contribution to global stability by keeping its own house in order.

China's foreign policy seems to focus on two aims: economic development and the protection of its sovereignty and territorial integrity - as in the cases of Taiwan, Tibet and the disputes with neighbouring countries over resource-rich areas of the sea.

'We can't do everything,' delegate Li Changjie from Henan province said, defending the country's self-serving foreign policy. 'If something is good for China and for peace and development in the world, we'll do it - if not, we won't.'

Many of the nearly 3,000 delegates showed their pride about China's rise, but said they also felt uncertain about what comes next.

'China is expected to play a role on the world stage,' a high- ranking government official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. This expectation posed a 'difficult question' to China, causing intense discussions within the government.

However, one thing was certain: 'We do not have the intention to play a bigger role in the world,' the source said in an unusually outspoken way. China's diplomatic corps was not ready yet. 'We need at least five more years.'