Based on the theory of sub-national governments＇ foreign affairs, this paper analyzes the role played by China＇s local governments at the time when China＇s central government was formulating polices to establish di...Based on the theory of sub-national governments＇ foreign affairs, this paper analyzes the role played by China＇s local governments at the time when China＇s central government was formulating polices to establish diplomatic relations with South Korea. China＇s local governments, with Shandong Province in particular, made strong attempts to lobby the central government on the economic need for enlarging bilateral trade and drawing investment from South Korea. These efforts played an active role on Sino-South Korean diplomatic normalization and further advanced the realization of diplomatic contacts already underway. Shandong Province＇s case shows that sub-national governments have been playing ever more important roles in China＇s overall diplomacy since the Reform and Opening Up of the economy, which began in 1978. In the multi-fold policy-making process by the central and local governments, it appears that the central government needs to respond to the reasonable interest case for engagement made by sub-national governments. How to accommodate the policy interests of the central and sub- national government entities is an important problem facing China＇s future diplomacy.展开更多
基金This paper was originally presented at ＂The Tenth China＇s Korean Studies Symposium＂ held at Fudan University in Shanghai on October 24-25, 2009. The author thanks the financial support from China Postdoctoral Science Foundation and Asia Research Center of Fudan University and the author would like to thank Mr. Liu Ji-de, Professor Chen Zhi-min at Ftldan University, Professor Zhang Dong-ming at Liaoning University, Professor Yu Nai-Min at National Chengchi University, Professor Jae Ho Chung at Seoul National University, and Dr. Indira Ravindran for their helpful comments.
文摘Based on the theory of sub-national governments＇ foreign affairs, this paper analyzes the role played by China＇s local governments at the time when China＇s central government was formulating polices to establish diplomatic relations with South Korea. China＇s local governments, with Shandong Province in particular, made strong attempts to lobby the central government on the economic need for enlarging bilateral trade and drawing investment from South Korea. These efforts played an active role on Sino-South Korean diplomatic normalization and further advanced the realization of diplomatic contacts already underway. Shandong Province＇s case shows that sub-national governments have been playing ever more important roles in China＇s overall diplomacy since the Reform and Opening Up of the economy, which began in 1978. In the multi-fold policy-making process by the central and local governments, it appears that the central government needs to respond to the reasonable interest case for engagement made by sub-national governments. How to accommodate the policy interests of the central and sub- national government entities is an important problem facing China＇s future diplomacy.
