Foreign Policy and Regime Legitimacy - China as a Responsible Peacekeeper?

With regard to the survival of authoritarian regimes in Asia, the paper takes a closer look at foreign policy behavior within international institutions as regime stabilizing factor. In comparison to bilateral relations or non-formalized international cooperation, international institutions can serve as legitimizing force and forum for image building. Rules and standards defined by the institution set out a clear standard for appropriate international behavior and establish hierarchies in which power relations evolve. For the paper at hand a single case study will be undertaken examining Chinese policies with regard to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKOs) during the tenure of Hu Jintao. The empirical analysis shows that regime legitimizing and stabilizing aspects of Chinese participation in UNPKOs are central to the significant increase in Chinese engagement. By deploying capable force-enabling blue helmets, China is supporting the image of being a “responsible” actor in international relations, thus trying to build trust and improve China’s image on a global level, generating positive domestic repercussions. Military capabilities are being modernized and exposure to international operations enhances operative potential, promoting the domestic perception of a strong and internationally respected military. Additionally, the heroization of Chinese peacekeepers through state propaganda is supposed to enhance identification with the party leadership. UN Peacekeeping works as an excellent field for the Chinese government to demonstrate integration with the world as well as a more principled Chinese approach to international relations (in clear dissociation of US or Western policies) thus satisfying both moderate as well as nationalist domestic audiences.