China as a trouble-shooter - how, why, and where?
Is it probable or even desirable, that China gets involved in regional trouble-spots? Beijing sticks to its official policy of non-interference, but signs of change are emerging.
With the political meltdown in the Middle East, pressure is mounting on China for a more proactive policy for supporting interventions, be they military or diplomatic. China is gradually moving towards a more flexible stand, while maintaining a principled view of non-interference.
Meanwhile, the surviving superpower and the rising superpower appear to be developing a mutual understanding on a number of issues. It may be too early to predict an informal ‘G2’, but something lesser than that will do fine in maintaining a stable world order.
Flemming Ytzen is a journalist and editor with the Danish newspaper Politiken and a regular commentator with TV2 News. He has covered China and East Asia for more than 30 years. In 2008 he published the book 'Supermagten Kina - mirakel eller mareridt' (The Superpower China - miracle or nightmare).