A New Responsible Power China? China's Public Diplomacy for Global Public Goods

Abstract

It is understood that only through global cooperation can we effectively provide global public goods such as climate and security. However, these challenges now occur at a time when international patterns of decision making are in flux due to the rise of emerging economic and political powers. Emerging economies, like China, play a crucial role. And while we outspokenly share a common interest in providing GPGs and mitigating shared negative effects such as climate change, many obstacles to cooperation between China and Europe remain. As one of the authors mentioned, trust is needed to ensure that geostrategic competition is not a stronger interest than the common good. As part of public diplomacy, engagement for global public goods can aim for international reputation and respect. Is China’s engagement in the global governance of GPGs credible in terms of China’s projected image as a New Responsible Power? Authors in this anthology point towards changes in China’s mindset and its taking over of new responsibilities in global governance. Taking a look at a variety of GPGs, they, in sum, sketch a picture of China’s changing role in global governance and of the remaining differences in ideational concepts and political frameworks between China and Europe, that have to be taken into account for a more informed and sustainable cooperation on GPGs.