China as global conflict mediator: from ambition to action
These are dramatic shifts for a country that was once a staunch advocate of non-interference. As its economic and security interests now reach far beyond its borders, China's engagement on the world stage has understandably grown accordingly. It has a strong incentive to resolve conflicts that threaten its trade, overseas investments, citizens abroad or simply regional stability.
The six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue, beginning in 2003, marked China's first major foray into multilateral conflict mediation.
The talks provide a good example of China's approach to conflict mediation, summarised in its foreign policy lexicon by the phrase '劝和促谈' (persuading for peace and promoting dialogue): while Beijing had no coercive leverage over Pyongyang, it served as a consistent convenor – urging
North Korea to halt its nuclear ambitions while pressing
the US to address the country's security concerns.
North Korean official Choe Ryong-hae (right) speaks with Zhao Leji (left), chairman of the National People's Congress of China, during a reception in Pyongyang last year. Photo: KCNA/KNS via AP
China's ambitions are now broader. It has been positioning itself as a leader of the Global South, embracing inclusive multilateralism more than the West.
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