I ORIGINAL ARTICLES
- The Chinese Educational Idioms That the Chinese Shall Live By
Wei Liu and Xiaojun Zhang
Abstract
- Reforms, International Crisis and Growth of Chinese and Indian Economies
Manmohan Agarwal and Adrita Banerjee
Abstract
- The Resurgence of Chinese Exceptionalism Under Xi’s Leadership
Behzad Abdollahpour
Abstract
- New OTC Derivative Instrument for BRI Grand Strategy Integration: Case of ‘China, Mongolia and Russia’
Valeriia A. Shichalina
Abstract
- The Historical Different Meanings of Chinese Communist Party’s ‘The Party Commands Gun’ Under Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping
Daqi (Reinhardt) Fang
Abstract
An Introductory Note for the Articles
- With the conviction that formulaic expressions in a language are carriers of stable thought patterns of its culture, the paper by Wei Liu and Xiaojun Zhang conducts a thematic analysis of Chinese educational idioms with the goal of exploring the traditional Chinese educational values reflected in the Chinese language use. Altogether, about 100 Chinese idioms that pertain to teaching, learning and parenting are identified from a Chinese Chengyu (idioms) dictionary. Findings of this study challenge the common practice of borrowing Western pedagogical discourses to justify curriculum change initiatives in China, arguing that the traditional Chinese educational discourses should be retained in order to secure a strong cultural identity for young generations.
- The considerable similarity in the growth paths of the Chinese and Indian economies since their respective reforms has changed after the 2008 crisis. This article by Manmohan Agarwal and Adrita Banerjee tries to understand the trajectories of different parameters of economic growth in the two countries, and how these changed after the crisis. Growth has declined in both the economies, more consistently in China, compared to India. The share of exports in GDP has also declined in both economies. The dependence of the Chinese economy on exports has decreased; however, its dependence on investment has increased. Investment’s share in GDP in China has increased, whereas it has decreased in India. The structure of the manufacturing sector in China has undergone changes, which is not the case for India. The increase in the share of services and decline in the share of manufacturing in China implies that the production structure is becoming less unbalanced.
- This article examines a historical process of Chinese exceptionalism throughout history. Shedding light on different forms of exceptionalism from imperial China till now, Behzad Abdollahpour argues that a new form of exceptionalism appeared under Xi’s administration. Recent studies about this concept seem to dismiss the identity factor and its relations with Chinese exceptionalism. Additionally, the literature on the resurgence of exceptionalism under Xi’s era has been less discussed. In order to address this gap, the author identifies the common features of Chinese exceptionalism and underlines the continuities and changes it has during Chinese history to better explain its traces under Xi’s leadership. The article concludes that Chinese exceptionalism is a narrative that helps Chinese leaders, including Xi Jinping, to give credentials to their domestic and international politics. Furthermore, through his evaluation of the pertinent literature, the author suggests that Xi’s exceptionalism is the combination of previous forms of exceptionalism in the past with a subtle difference that paves the way for China to be an active rising power.
- The Belt and Road Initiative is an economic integration plan. But at regional level, the financial capabilities of route countries do not allow the implementation of the Belt and Road. This is the need for and creation of a new financial form. This study by Valeriia A. Shichalina aims to theoretically justify a new financial form for economic integration—new type of over-the-counter derivative financial instrument. This adaptation addresses the case of the transport corridor ‘China–Mongolia–Russia’ and ‘resident status’ of the Joint Economic Zone that will serve as a guarantee for the financial assets of the Belt and Road companies and increase their financial sustainability and investment revival in regions. In general, this has a positive effect on the development of the accounting system and increases the financial and investment interests of business participants, which can lead to new forms of entrepreneurial activity and become a catalyst for improving the welfare of regions of China–Mongolia–Russia transport corridor, and it is in line with the goals and investment initiatives of the Belt and Road project.
- Since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) established its own military force (People’s Liberation Army [PLA]), it has always emphasised ‘The Party Commands Gun’ (dangzhihuiqiang, 党指挥枪). However, the high-ranking CCP leaders who hold ‘military power (junquan, 军权¨)’ would also use their influence in the PLA to influence or even change the direction of Chinese politics. In addition, the meaning of ‘The Party Commands Gun’ also varies by period, and the meaning of it is also quite different in different eras in the CCP party history. In this article, Daqi (Reinhardt) Fang aims to analyse the connotation changes of the CCP’s political slogan ‘The Party Commands Gun’ from the perspective of historical evolution. Based on examples from the history of the CCP, the focus will be compared to the CCP’s revolutionary era, the Mao Zedong era and the post-Mao era of ‘The Party Commands Gun’. From the perspective of empirical analysis and historical evolution, the author reveals the evolution of the purpose of ‘The Party Commands Gun’ from the revolutionary era to Deng Xiaoping era.
II BOOK REVIEWS
- Reena Marwah and Lê Thi. Ha̐ng Nga, India–Vietnam Relations: Development Dynamics and Strategic Alignment, Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore, Springer Series in Dynamics of Asian Development, 2023.
Yamini Meena
Abstract
- Paulo Afonso B. Duarte, Francisco José B. S. Leandro and Enrique Martínez Galán (eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Globalization with Chinese Characteristics: The Case of the Belt and Road Initiative, New York: Springer, 2023.
Tiago Soares Nogara
Abstract
- Gary Ka-wai Cheung, Yingguo dangan zhong de Xianggang qiantu wenti [Secrets from the British Archives: Hong Kong and its Post-Colonial Future] (In Chinese), Hong Kong: City University Press, 2022.
Adrian Chiu
Abstract
- Mike Chinoy, Assignment China: An Oral History of American Journalists in the People’s Republic, New York: Columbia University Press, 2023.
Ananth Krishnan
Abstract
- Tansen Sen and Brian Tsui (Eds.), Beyond Pan-Asianism: Connecting China and India, 1840s–1960s, England: Oxford University Press, 2021.
Chandu Doddi
Abstract
