China should participate more in making int'l rules

Generally speaking, it is the crucial time of reshaping the international rules when the international situation is changing dramatically. Currently, the international situation is undergoing profound changes, with the end of the Cold War system and international financial crisis accelerating changes of balance of international powers, which pushed the international pattern to a new crossroad.

Around "transformation," all parties are thinking about how to guide the international situation beneficial to themselves. One of the most important methods is to use "rules” to participate in or lead the development of new international rules to ensure the maximization of their own interests.

Since ancient times, the powerful countries made rules while weak countries were forced to comply with them, which also determined the mold and quota of the distribution of power in the international system. After huge changes of international situation, powerful countries will tend to do everything possible to use their power to make and shape rules to ensure acquiring huge marginal revenue.

The competitions between China and the United States around the rules can be seen everywhere and is becoming increasingly fierce. It is no longer possible for the United States to contain China's development so it hopes to return to the Asia-Pacific region and meddle in the South China Sea issue to "remold" China with the rules it formulated, though U.S. President Barack Obama said that he would like to see a peaceful and prosperous China.

In the past, China was pushed aside in many ways under the "rules" because most of the rules were established under the auspices of Western countries and China can only adapt to and comply with them. Therefore, it is self-evident whether China will participate in the building and formulation of new international rules in front of currently changing international situation?

China is a responsible country so it is necessary that it must actively learn to use the rules, avoid obstacles ahead and reduce the development costs.

Today, China needs to establish a new concept of rules under the international spotlight. To this end, it has an urgent need to strengthen the capacity building of rulemaking, including initiatively setting the agendas, convening international conferences and hosting international events to cleverly seize issues concerned by countries and put forward its own views. Of course, it also needs to cultivate more talents to be executives in international institutions and organizations, increasing understanding and use of the current international rules and guiding the establishment of new international rules.

Read the Chinese version: 中国应更多参与“规则博弈"; Source:People's Daily Overseas Edition; Author: Ruan Zongze

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