Question 1

'Lean to one side, lean to the other' describes the grand strategy of…

Accepted Answer

'Lean to one side, lean to the other' was the grand strategy developed and implemented by Mao Zedong during the Cold War era. It involved aligning with one global superpower (first the Soviet Union, then the United States) while still maintaining relations with the other to increase China's global influence and power. Neither Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, nor Xi Jinping have implemented this strategy to the same degree as Mao.

Question 2

Deng Xiaoping's 'hide and bide' strategy called for China to…

Accepted Answer

Deng Xiaoping's 'hide and bide' strategy called for China to lay low and join the existing world order, while gradually increasing its power and influence. This involved opening up to foreign investment and trade, while maintaining a low profile in international affairs until China was strong enough to assert its interests on the global stage.

Question 3

'The great rejuvenation of the nation' and the 'China Dream' are associated with the grand strategy of…

Accepted Answer

'The great rejuvenation of the nation' and the 'China Dream' are closely associated with Xi Jinping, who has made them central to his grand strategy for China's future.

Question 4

Xi Jinping's use of the term 'a community for a shared destiny' reflects…

Accepted Answer

Xi Jinping's use of the term 'a community for a shared destiny' reflects all of the given answers. It reflects the belief that the Chinese are pursuing 'win-win' relations, a model of international relations that supersedes the Western approach and its accompanying components, such as democracy and human rights promotion and arming and allying with other countries, and a belief that the current liberal world order can be improved to become more harmonious and inclusive. Therefore, all the answers given are correct.

Question 5

China's 'Belt and Road Initiative' not only provides loans and other assistance for infrastructure projects throughout the world, but also represents an attempt by China to leverage its economic power for political and security purposes.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is not only an economic project, but also a strategic one. China sees it as a way to expand its influence around the world and increase its geopolitical power. Through the BRI, China can extend its economic and strategic influence in regions that were previously outside its sphere of influence.

Question 6

According to Chapter 18, which of the following institutions demonstrates China's willingness to found organizations that further its interests but that are still tied to the international trade system?

Accepted Answer

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is an institution founded by China that demonstrates its willingness to found organizations that further its interests while still being tied to the international trade system. The AIIB was created in response to China's perceived lack of influence in existing international financial organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The AIIB has a focus on infrastructure development in Asia and has gained support and membership from both Western and non-Western countries. The other options, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), were not founded by China and do not solely serve its interests.

Question 7

At the domestic and/or ideational level, China's grand strategy has been driven by…

Accepted Answer

China's grand strategy is driven by multiple factors, including the national narrative of China's historical dominance, the desire to overcome past humiliations, and concerns about internal stability. Therefore, all the given answers are correct.

Question 8

Under Xi Jinping, China has sought to change the rules of institutions to gain a greater official say in their activities and decisions, but has not sought to establish new standards, rules, norms, or processes to give it a competitive advantage where the established order is weak, ambiguous, or non-existent.

Accepted Answer

Under Xi Jinping, China has actively sought to establish new standards, rules, norms, and processes, especially in areas where the established order is weak, ambiguous, or non-existent. This can be seen in initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the China-proposed Global Data Security Initiative.

Question 9

China aims to operate in the Indian Ocean and beyond, and there are many indications that China aspires to prevent other countries from also operating there.

Accepted Answer

China's ambitions in the Indian Ocean and beyond are primarily focused on securing its trade routes and expanding its influence. While it aims to establish a significant presence, there is no clear evidence that China intends to prevent other countries from operating in these international waters.

Question 10

China uses grey-zone tactics, activities that allow a country to stay below the threshold of overt military action to secure gains without provoking military responses by others, to advance its maritime claims in the East China Sea and South China Sea.

Accepted Answer

China has been using various grey-zone tactics such as sending coast guard vessels and fishing boats to disputed waters, constructing artificial islands and military facilities, and deploying militia forces to advance its maritime claims in the East China Sea and South China Sea. These activities are below the threshold of overt military action and aim to secure gains without provoking military responses by other countries in the region.

Quiz 17: Chinese Grand Strategy, Oriana Skylar Mastro