On Thursday, May 31, 2018, a workshop on Chinese Economic Statecraft Since 1991, intended to mark the beginning of a long-term international group project in this area, sponsored by the Asia-Pacific Business Research Centre of City University of Macau, and funded by the Macau Foundation, took place in Room HG0l, Taipa Campus, City University of Macau. Papers were divided into several panels, in which scholars presented a wide range of papers on and discussed broad theoretical issues and specific case studies related to the workshop’s broad theme.
This event was attended by Prof. Zhang Shuguang, Rector of City University of Macau and author of Beijing’s Economic Statecraft During the Cold War, 1949-1991 (2014), the most comprehensive treatment of this subject to date, who delivered the opening presentation. Prof. Zhang, who pioneered this field, and whose work crosses the divide between history and political science, focused upon how one should define Chinese economic statecraft, whether there is anything distinctive about the way that China employs economic power to enhance its international position, and whether Chinese economic statecraft has changed over time. His magisterial address set the scene for subsequent discussions of both broad general themes and specific case studies focusing upon particular aspects of Chinese economic statecraft.
Prof. Margaret Pearson, Dr. Horace E. and Wilma V. Harrison Distinguished Professor and Distinguished Scholar-Teacher in the Department of Government and Politics, University of Maryland, College Park, spoke on the domestic and institutional factors driving Chinese economic statecraft, and whether it should be understood as a coherent strategy or as ad hoc measures adopted in response to specific circumstances and problems. Prof. Jean-Marc F. Blanchard, Distinguished Professor of East China Normal University and Executive Director of The Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Wong Center for the Study of Multinational Corporations, United States, discussed the role of foreign aid in Chinese economic statecraft. Prof. Priscilla Roberts of the Faculty of Business, co-director of the Asia-Pacific Business Research Centre, set Chinese economic statecraft in the broader context of efforts by other states, especially during the twentieth century but even before then, to use economic power as a means of enhancing their international position, in peacetime and especially in war.
Speakers then turned to case studies that providing insights into specific regions and issues. Prof. Geoffrey Gunn, Prof. Emeritus of the University of Nagasaki, who is also affiliated to the University of Macau, gave a historical and regional perspective on Chinese Economic Statecraft in Asia. Prof. Sun Degang of Shanghai International Studies University described Chinese Economic Statecraft in the Middle East since the 1990s, drawing on interviews he has conducted with leading Chinese diplomats. Prof. Wang Jianwei of the University of Macau discussed Chinese Economic Statecraft in its relationship to International and Intergovernmental Organizations. Dr. Timothy Summers of Chatham House and the Chinese University of Hong Kong spoke on the Political Context of Economic Statecraft in Relationship to China’s Periphery of Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. Dr. Jan Knoerich of King’s College, London and Dr. Allison Kai-yin Li Haga of National Taiwan University both discussed aspects of the Asian International Infrastructure Bank.
A highpoint of the day was a 45-minute Skype session with Prof. Evelyn Goh, Shedden Professor of Strategic Policy Studies at Australian National University. Prof. Goh, editor of the book Rising China’s Influence in Developing Asia (2016), spoke on the limits that appear to exist to the leverage and influence that Chinese economic power enables it to exert over other states. Her presentation was followed by intense questions and discussion from other participants.
A hallmark of the meeting was the in-depth discussions of the presentations in both formal settings and over meals and during breaks. Prof. Jean-Marc Blanchard and Prof. Nicholas Thomas each gave formal comments on several papers, and there were numerous questions for individual panelists from the floor.
Vice-Rector Ip Kuai Peng of City University of Macau; Prof. Eva Khong, Executive Associate Dean of the Faculty of Business, City University of Macau; Prof. Chao Peng, Director of the One Belt One Road Research Centre, City University of Macau; and academic staff from the Faculty of Business of the City University of Macau attended these events. Other guests included Mr. Alberto Bettencourt, a local businessman with twenty years of experience in Macao; Dr. Staci Ford of the University of Hong Kong; and Mr. Laurens Hemminga, a graduate student from City University of Hong Kong. The quality of papers, presentations, and discussion was in all cases outstanding.
This is intended to be the opening event in a series of workshops to be held over several years, as part of an international team project to explore the nature and implications of Chinese Economic Statecraft Since the Cold War. The participants intend to publish a selection of revised conference papers, either as a special journal issue or as a book. They also intend to hold several further workshops, each exploring Chinese Economic Statecraft since the Cold War over a specific decade, to result in a series of three further books.
Special thanks for their assistance are due to Prof. Eva Khong, Executive Associate Dean of the Faculty of Business; Ms. Anna Wu and Ms. Una Pong, of the Faculty of Business administrative staff; and the technical staff of City University of Macau.