First, national strategic choices and the definition of national identity are intrinsically linked. China's national identity is complex: a regional developing country with increasing global influence. Though China has become the world's second-largest economy, it remains a developing country in terms of its development stage and structural strength. It is still a regional power because its military capabilities are limited, especially when compared with that of the United States. From a geostrategic point of view, Asia is crucial for China's security and development, which is the most important factor prompting China's new leadership to advance and upgrade the country's Asian strategy.

Second, it is required by the objective of Asian integration. Currently, Asia has two contradictory faces, an angelic one and a demonic one. On the one hand, Asia has been experiencing rapid economic development, which has become the primary engine of global economic growth. The so-called power shift from the West to the East largely lies in the economic field. On the other hand, Asia also has complex geopolitics, diverse civilizations, disputes that are the legacy of the past and different problems that make Asia one of the most fragile regions in the world when it comes to security.

Meanwhile, major powers have increased their strategic investments in Asia and the region is again an arena for powers games. Under such circumstances, a "dual structure" has emerged in Asia. For example, some Asian countries depend on China's economic development, but seek security aid from the US. There is a dilemma in the region - the "Asia paradox" as South Korean President Park Geun-hye termed it - countries in the region are closely linked economically, while political conflicts are creating wider divisions between them.

The future of Asia, however, will be determined by the countries in the region breaking this dual structure and moving toward regional integration, which requires the joint efforts of all, but especially the efforts of major countries in the region. As the region's most important state, China cannot evade its regional responsibilities. The new leadership's periphery diplomacy, to some extent, has originated from it shouldering the responsibility to promote regional integration to achieve long-term sustainable development in Asia.

Finally, external challenges will need careful handling. After the financial crisis, the international power structure has entered a new round of adjustment. In this process, China faces enormous challenges in the external environment. In the economic sphere, it faces sluggish external demand, while its economic development is in a difficult transition period. In the geopolitical sphere, the major powers have strengthened their Asia policy, which has brought additional challenges to China's Asia strategy. Thus, focusing on periphery diplomacy is a necessary choice for China.

Some analysts believe that China's periphery diplomacy is mainly motivated by the US' rebalancing to Asia strategy. But while this is one of the driving factors, it is not the main one. The Chinese government has a clear and consistent policy toward the growing US presence in Asia: It recognizes and respects US interests in Asia while calling for it to be a constructive force in Asian regional affairs. In other words, China does not want to exclude the US from Asia. Therefore, China's periphery strategy has the characteristics of inclusiveness and openness.

The author is an assistant research fellow for the Institute for International and Strategic Studies at the Party School. www.chinausfocus.com.cn

(China Daily 11/27/2013 page8)