Environmental Security and its Implications for China’s Foreign Relations

Junko Mochizuki and ZhongXiang Zhang
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Junko Mochizuki: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawaii at Manoa

No 116, Economics Study Area Working Papers from East-West Center, Economics Study Area

Abstract: China’s emerging standing in the world demands a major rethinking of its diplomatic strategies. Given its population size, geographical scale, economic power and military presence, China is poised to play a larger political role in the twenty-first century, and is thus perceived by the international community to have greater capacities, capabilities and responsibilities. At the same time, environmental stresses caused by China’s energy and resources demands have become increasingly evident in recent years, urging China to cultivate delicate diplomatic relations with its neighbors and strategic partners. Tensions have been seen in areas such as transboundary air pollution, cross-border water resources management and resources exploitation, and more recently in global issues such as climate change. As the Chinese leadership begins to embrace the identity of a responsible developing country, it is becoming apparent that while unabated resources demands and environmental deterioration may pose a great threat to environmental security, a shared sense of urgency could foster enhanced cooperation. For China to move beyond existing and probable diplomatic tensions, a greater attention to domestic and regional environmental security will no doubt be necessary. This article explores such interrelations among domestic, regional and global environmental securities and China’s diplomacy, and suggests possible means by which China could contribute to strengthening global environmental security.

JEL-codes: O13 P28 Q25 Q34 Q42 Q48 Q53 Q54 Q56 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: pages 27
Date: 2011-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene and nep-env
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Environmental Security and its Implications for China’s Foreign Relations (2011)
Working Paper: Environmental Security and its Implications for China’s Foreign Relations (2011)
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