China's political narratives and Antarctic diplomacy

ABSTRACT

China has become an important player in Antarctic governance. Nevertheless, it still has not legislated a law on Antarctica or issued any strategy for its Antarctic activities. As political narratives play an important role in shaping policies, this paper conducted a critical discourse analysis of six key political narratives in China’s politics and diplomacy to assess their implications to China and the Antarctic Treaty System. This paper concludes that the narratives do not contradict the Antarctic Treaty’s core values, but the nationalism discourses could make China more assertive in the deliberations. These narratives could also be used as opportunities for seeking a common ground when engaging dialogues with China.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributor

Jiliang Chen is a researcher at Greenovation Hub, a Chinese environmental NGO. He holds a bachelor degree on Environmental Science and a master degree on Environmental Management. Mr Chen has been working on international environmental policy since 2007 and regularly participated in international environmental negotiations such as the UN climate talks and the Antarctic Treaty related meetings. His current research interest is the governance of the global commons.

Notes

1 Regulations on Environmental Protection of Antarctic Activities (《南极活动环境保护管理规定》), 2018; Management Regulations on Environment Impact Assessment for Scientific Expeditions in Antarctica (《南极考察活动环境影响评估管理规定》), 2017; Administrative Management Regulations for Scientific Expeditions in Antarctica (《南极考察活动行政许可管理规定》), 2014; Quick Response plan to Emergencies for Polar Expeditions (《极地考察总体应急预案》), 2018.

2 The document was only available on the CAA website for a short period.

3 In October 2018 the legislative plan of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) was announced. It included a total of 116 items of legislation in three categories. Among them, the Antarctic Activities and Environmental Protection Act is listed as a category 1 legislative item.

4 c.f. Liu., N. 2019. The heights of China’s ambition in Antarctica, The Interpreter, https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/heights-china-s-ambition-antarctica.

5 PartIV, Report of the CPC’s 17th national congress, 2007, available at: http://language.chinadaily.com.cn/2007-10/31/content_6218870_5.htm.

6 Table of Content, Xi Jingping on the Governance of China, Foreign Language Press, 2014.

7 Thirty Lectures on Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characters for the New Era(《习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想三十讲》), Central Department for Propaganda, P244 (in Chinese).

8 State Councilor Dai Bingguo’s Speech at the 2015 Eco-Forum Global Annual Conference (Guiyang), 2015.6.29, available in Chinese at: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/web/ziliao_674904/zyjh_674906/t1276795.shtml.

9 President Xi Jingping’s keynote speech at the UN’s Office in Geneva: Work Together to Build a Community of Shared Future for Mankind, 2017.1.18, Available at: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-01/19/c_135994707.htm.

10 Dai Bingguo, Ibid.

11 Ibid 7.

12 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Biodiversity Synthesis.World Resources Institute, Washington, DC. https://www.millenniumassessment.org/documents/document.354.aspx.pdf.

13 President Xi’s speech at the general debate of the 70th UNGA, 2015.9.28, available in Chinese at https://china.huanqiu.com/article/9CaKrnJQhnU.

14 State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s speech at the UN Climate Action Summit, 2019.9.24, available at: https://yizhiyoudao.kuaizhan.com/27/38/p65448139515525.

15 China Daily’s summary of foreign media coverage on President Xi’s speech at the general debate of the 70th UNGA, 2015, available at: http://china.chinadaily.com.cn/xxjhjs/2015-11/27/content_22523932.htm

16 The White House, “Remarks by President Obama and President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China Before Bilateral Meeting”, June 7, 2013, available at: https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/07/remarks-president-obama-and-president-xi-jinping-peoples-republic-china-.

17 Principle 7, Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, 1992.

18 Deng Xiaoping’s remarks at the meeting with José Sarney, the President of Brazil, 1988.7.5 available in Chinese at: http://rmrb.zhouenlai.info/%E4%BA%BA%E6%B0%91%E6%97%A5%E6%8A%A5/1988/07/1988-07-05.htm.

19 Part XII, Report of the CPC’s 19th national congress, 2017, available at: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/interface/flipboard/1142846/2017-11-06/cd_34188086.html.

20 Communique of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, available at: http://www.catl.org.cn/2015-11/30/content_37196189.htm.

21 CPC’s Central Committee’s Recommendations on the 13th Five-Year Plan, available in Chinese at: http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2015/1103/c1001-27772701.html.

22 PartXI, Report of the CPC’s 18th national congress, 2012, available at: https://language.chinadaily.com.cn/news/2012-11/19/content_15941774_12.htm.

23 Ibid 19.

24 A list could by found here: http://www.humanrights.cn/html/special/20180613/mulu3/type-744.html.

25 Search result in cnki.net: In 524 articles with ‘development’ as theme and ‘CSFH’ mentioned, 256 of them also mentioned ‘BRI’. search result acquired on 12/12/2020.

26 Xu Hong, the director of the Law and Treaty Department of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

27 State Oceanic Administration of China, China’s Antarctic Activities, 2017.

28 news on Xinhua, available in Chinese at: http://www.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2017-12/29/c_1122187810.htm.

29 Head of the State Oceanic Administration: From Big Ploar Country to Strong Polar Country, Official Site of the Government of China, 2014.11.19, available in Chinese at: http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2014-11/19/content_2780849.htm.

30 Head of the State Oceanic Administration’s Op-Ed at People’s Daily, available in Chinese at: http://opinion.people.com.cn/n1/2017/1120/c1003-29655289.html.

31 President Hu’s call to the Antarctic Research Base in 2008, available in Chinese at: http://www.gov.cn/zmyw200806c/content_1023706.htm.

32 Deng Xiaoping’s remarks, Ibis 18.

33 Former Director of China Meteorological Administration, Qin Dahe’s speech at the special meeting of ATCM XL in Beijing, 2017, available in Chinese at: http://www.cma.gov.cn/2011xwzx/2011xqxxw/2011xqxyw/201705/t20170525_414692.html.

34 Vice President of the Party School of the Central Committee of CPC, Li Junru’s keynote speech at the opening of China’s Annual Symposium of Polar Science in 2014.

35 Ibid 22 State Oceanic Administration of China, China’s Antarctic Activities, 2017.

36 Zhang Gaoli: Adhere to the Principle and Spirit of the Antarctic Treaty to Better Understand, Protect and Utilize the Antarctica, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2017, available at: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1465158.shtml.

37 China’s Arctic Policy, 2018, available at: http://english.www.gov.cn/archive/white_paper/2018/01/26/content_281476026660336.htm.

38 ATCM XL - CEP XX (2017) IP175 Chair’s Summary of the Special Meeting “Our Antarctica: Protection and Utilisation”.

39 Report of CCAMLRXXXIII, 2014 para 7.96.

40 Tang, J. 2017. China’s engagement in the establishment of marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean: From reactive to active. Marine Policy, 75, 68–74.

41 Antarctic Treaty, available at: http://ats.aq.

42 Protocol on Environmental Protection of the Antarctic Treaty, available at: http://ats.aq.