No Asian Monroe Doctrine

It is completely legitimate and justified for Chinese to safeguard its territories against such actions. Such behavior has nothing to do with a "show of strength". It is not China but the other countries concerned that have contravened the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and other international laws and documents by attempting to change the status quo through permanent occupation of some islands that belong to China.

The common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable Asian security concept raised by China, which is based on its good-neighborly and friendly foreign policies toward neighboring countries, is aimed at building a new framework for regional security cooperation. Such a security approach is not for its own selfish interests, but a reflection of the common wishes of Asian nations to maintain regional security and stability and promote common development and prosperity.

China consistently stresses that Asia is open and welcomes a positive and constructive role from non-regional members, a stance that is essentially different from the Monroe Doctrine. China adheres to its long-cherished stance not to seek alignment, confrontation, hegemony and expansion, and not to use force. It has never pursued a sphere of influence, not to mention an attempt to restore its past imperial order. On the contrary, China is committed to consolidating its friendships with neighboring nations, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation with them in a bid to behave as a responsible regional power to contribute to Asian peace and stability.

In the context of the lack of substantial progresses achieved in international financial reforms following the 2008 international financial crisis, it is true that emerging economies, including China, have increased their efforts in financial cooperation and financial institutional construction, such as their establishment of a development bank for the BRICs countries and an investment bank for Asian infrastructure construction. However, such efforts are by no means aimed at challenging or replacing the established international financial system led by the IMF and World Bank, but a beneficial supplement to them that will help relevant countries strengthen financial cooperation and prevent financial risks.

A China that adheres to its peaceful development path and is committed to maintaining world peace and promoting common development will not challenge the established international and regional order, given that a fast-growing China is braced to undertake more international responsibilities and contribute more to a brighter world.

The author is a Beijing-based scholar of international relations.