The Global Times reported on May 13 that Japan is opening its fi rst overseas base in Djibouti on the Gulf of Aden. Despite Japan's pacifi st constitution, the public announcement caused little stir in international society.
By contrast, China's equivocation over its own plans for overseas bases has generated a good deal of suspicion. Our diplomatic effects badly needs to improve.
In fact, how China will develop its overseas bases is a question that we can no longer avoid answering. China should explicitly explain the scheme, and meanwhile dispel doubts from the outside, especially from neighboring countries, through open diplomatic activities.
China's attitude toward overseas bases should change with the times and its shifting relations with the world. As peace and development have been the themes of our times, navies are expanding their non-military functions, such as naval diplomacy, anti-piracy operations and maritime search and rescue.
Since China began to send navy convoys on anti-piracy missions to the Gulf of Aden and the Somali coast in 2008, the lack of overseas bases has emerged as a major impediment to the Chinese navy's cruising e ciency. As early as the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), China established several overseas supply bases for admiral Zheng He's maritime expeditions.
This did not change the fact that the expeditions were peaceful. Today, if China wants to establish peaceful overseas bases, why not actively strive for the world's understanding and the approval of the international community?
China also needs to make the international community aware of the fact that overseas bases are needed for two purposes: China's own interests and the country's assumption of more international responsibilities. There is no need to conceal these goals.
China's own interests, country's trade, energy, investments and Chinese citizens abroad are now global. With an agreement on the establishment of overseas bases between China and the host countries, overseas bases could serve as a link between the two sides, improving bilateral cooperation and common interests.
Some countries expect China to undertake more international responsibilities but object to China's plans for overseas bases, which are necessary for bearing such responsibilities.
This is unreasonable. Keeping silent is no good for removing doubts. For China, the best choice is to put the establishment of overseas bases on the agenda as soon as possible, and carry out the necessary communications with relevant countries.
China's traditional friendly relations with many coastal nations on the Indian Ocean make it possible to set up overseas bases there. Since historically China has never used maritime expeditions for military purposes, Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern and African countries are not unduly worried about China's overseas bases. The exception is India, which, along with the US, has competitive relations with China in the Indian Ocean.
Once China has a clear plan for overseas bases, it should consider every possible angle.
In the short term, the needs of the Chinese navy's cruises in the Gulf of Aden and Somalia should be satisfied first. In the long term, overseas bases should help safeguard China's energy supply routes, protect overseas interests, and promote international cooperation to solve non-traditional security problems.
It's important for China to frequently communicate and consult with these countries, and to cultivate support from different international organizations and the global community.
These are the diplomatic activities China needs to carry out before setting up overseas bases.
The author is a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University.
Source: Global Times
