The Heat: China’s non-intervention policy

The Heat

For more than sixty years, non-intervention has been the cornerstone of China’s foreign policy. But the rules aren’t always clear-cut.

Following many years of sitting on the sidelines, China now contributes more troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions than any other permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.

It ranks twelfth among nations contributing ‘blue helmets.’ And China is the world’s second largest financial backer of the force.

It practices the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence — including mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence.

Because of these principles, China is generally reluctant to vote for sanctions at the United Nations Security Council. But recently, Beijing supported new sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea after yet another missile test.
The move was aimed at increasing economic pressure on Pyongyang to return to negotiations on its nuclear and missile programs.

CGTN’s Asieh Namdar hosts tonight’s show and discusses China’s non-intervention policy with:

  • Song Zhang, chief correspondent with Shanghai Wen Hui Daily
  • Yun Sun, a senior associate in the East Asia Program with the Stimson Center
  • Victor Gao,is a Chinese international relations expert
  • Brian Becker, national coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition