“Revolution” and “Development”—A Comparative Study of Chinese Diplomacy in the Mao Zedong Era and in the Deng Xiaoping Era

Abstract

Some scholars argue that China’s foreign policy has been very unpredictable in the past 50 years. Some others go even further as to say that “every 10 years would see a major change in China’s foreign policy.” Frankly speaking, I think that both opinions reflect only a superficial knowledge of China. As a matter of fact, no foreign policy makers in any country in the world can afford to follow their inclinations and do whatever they like. The diplomatic decision-making of any country is limited by various domestic and international factors. On the one hand, it is restricted by domestic politics as well as the nation’s overall strength. On the other, it changes according to and interacts with the current situation of international political affairs. This said, among the various factors that influence diplomatic decision-making, it is the strategic development intent of the nation that plays the key role. A nation’s diplomatic strategy, or, in other words, international strategy, always serves its national development strategy.