Abstracts

The Global South as an Intermediate Zone： A Strategic Research Agenda

MEN Honghua and WANG Wenqi

Abstract： Great-power rivalry has given rise to an “intermediate zone” with the Global South—long relegated to the periphery of global affairs—emerging as a pivotal arena of contestation. This dynamic has dual consequences： it risks reducing the Global South to a political and economic appendage of major powers， yet it also catalyzes a profound political awakening among its nations. In this new era， the Global South is experiencing a collective ascent， serving as a primary engine of global economic growth， a steadfast proponent of non-alignment， and a committed practitioner of multilateral diplomacy. As an intermediate zone， it is increasingly positioned to temper great-power competition and reshape the international order， transitioning from a passive bystander to an active architect of global governance. Looking ahead， China should elevate the Global South to a cornerstone of its strategic vision， leveraging the intermediate zone framework to amplify its influence. This entails clarifying the Global South’s distinct identity， collaborating with developing nations to secure a greater international voice， forging internal consensus to promote a more just and equitable international economic structure， and prioritizing the developmental priorities of these nations in global governance agendas. Such efforts can forge a new paradigm of South-South cooperation—one that resists hegemony， breaks free from dependency， and fosters shared prosperity.

Keywords： Global South， intermediate zone， South-South cooperation， strategic studies

The Resilience of Globalization and Its Chinese Momentum

WANG Dong and GAO Dan

Abstract： Since China’s accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001， the speed and extent of integration of goods， services， and capital markets have been increasing， and China has been deeply integrated into globalization. Globalization has generated a great deal of wealth and brought numerous risks as well， enduring multiple setbacks and countercurrents while persistently evolving through adaptation and adjustment. Policies of President Trump’s first administration and the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 once plunged globalization into turmoil. Now， with Trump's return to the White House， globalization faces renewed multifaceted challenges. At this stage， the global economy and trade are gradually recovering， global supply chains are being reinforced， and international mobility， facilitated by digital technology， is vibrant. All these demonstrate the remarkable resilience of globalization. China has consistently leveraged its unique advantages in markets， institutions， and other areas to contribute to globalization. Building on its role and achievements in global integration， and within the framework of existing multilateral and regional organizations， China continues to provide “Chinese momentum” to advance globalization. Amid profound changes unseen in a century， Beijing will continue to uphold the principles of “equality and consultation， openness and innovation， solidarity and justice”， continue to strengthen the resilience of globalization， and always act as a supporter and promoter of economic globalization， a leader and practitioner of re-globalization， and a shaper and guardian of the resilience of globalization.

Keywords： globalization， resilience， re-globalization

Globalization， Regional Disparities， and National Strategy： Indonesia’s Response

CHENG Yawen and LIU Yien

Abstract： Globalization’s reshaping of economic geography has unleashed social and political frictions， evident not only globally but also within nations. For many developing countries， integration into global markets has spurred economic growth， yet the spatial reconfiguration of resources has deepened regional disparities. The concentration of population， industry， and wealth in core areas， far from fostering equitable distribution， has intensified social divides and， in some cases， ignited political conflict. Indonesia’s experience illustrates this dynamic. Under colonial rule， a highly centralized urban structure emerged; after independence， government-led modernization， marked by a “Java-centric” bias， reinforced this pattern. Since the late 20th century， Indonesia’s deeper entanglement with globalization has exacerbated regional imbalances， compelling the government to adopt countervailing measures to mitigate the adverse effects of globalization. Chief among these is the bold decision to relocate the capital， a strategy aimed at redressing spatial inequities. Its ultimate impact， however， remains uncertain， offering a critical case for understanding how nations navigate the tensions between global integration and domestic cohesion.

Keywords： globalization， unbalanced development， alienation of interests， strategic adjustment， capital relocation

Competitive Coexistence： The Relationships among the “C5+1” Mechanisms of China， the United States and Russia

ZHOU Ming and LIN Yuqing

Abstract： In recent years， the respective “C5+1” mechanisms of China， the United States， and Russia have formed a competitive coexistence in Central Asia， due to the “Silent Coordination” among the three countries， Central Asian countries’ recognition of regional identity， and the proliferation of regional mechanisms and policies. The competitive landscape among these mechanisms has become increasingly pronounced. However， after analyzing and comparing the strategic goals behind the creation of these mechanisms， this study finds that the “C5+1” mechanisms of the three countries compete in Central Asia with differences in their areas of focus， competitive advantages， and investment intensity. In contrast to China’s focus on fostering “harmony and cooperation”， the United States emphasizes power competition， and Russia focuses on restoring its dominant position. The three powers attract Central Asian participation through distinct approaches： China leverages robust economic strength and normative ideas; the United States relies on soft power; and Russia emphasizes historical and cultural ties. Their levels of investment in institutional development also vary. Against the backdrop of an intensifying “New Great Game”， competition among the three “C5+1” mechanisms shows trends of escalating intensity， expanding domains， and rising hierarchical engagement. Meanwhile there is also room for cooperation among the mechanisms. In the future， competition among China， the United States， and Russia over Central Asian’s political， economic and security order will continue. In this regard， China should take corresponding initiatives to promote the quality and upgrade its “C5+1” mechanism， fostering a closer China-Central Asia community.

Keywords： “C5+1” mechanisms， Central Asia， competitive coexistence， great power politics， China-Central Asia community with a shared future

Challenges and Diverse Approaches to Regional Governance in the Arab World

CHEN Yueyang

Abstract： At present， the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. Major-power rivalry， geopolitical conflicts， and global challenges are increasingly intertwined， while deficits in peace， development， security， and governance continue to deepen. Due to both historical and current realities， the Arab region has become one of the most prominent flashpoints where global tensions over security and development converge. Among the host of challenges facing the region， severe deficits in security， development， and governance are arguably the most prominent ones. The roots of these challenges lie not only in internal governance shortcomings， but also in structural factors at the international level， such as hegemonic interference by external powers. Arab countries have recently begun to reflect on their governance difficulties. National governments and regional organizations alike have taken proactive steps to advance regional governance， with a growing consensus that development must come first. This shift reflects a growing sense of strategic autonomy among regional countries， and a shared determination to foster unity， build resilience， and actively engage in reforming the global governance architecture. Major powers with global influence also play a central role in regional governance. China’s involvement in the Arab world is rooted in a long-standing tradition of friendship and driven by the region’s pressing need to overcome its governance dilemmas. China’s practical efforts and innovative approaches demonstrate how a major power can pursue peaceful diplomacy amid global turbulence and transformation. These efforts not only offer new ideas for Arab countries seeking to overcome development challenges， but also serve as a valuable reference for Global South nations exploring independent and self-determined paths to development.

Keywords： Arab countries， regional governance， China’s involvement

Critical Raw Material Strategy： EU’s Layout and China’s Response

TU Xinquan， LIU Yuejun， and LI Siqi

Abstract： Critical raw materials are essential to the transition to clean energy and the development of advanced technologies. Demand for these materials is rising rapidly worldwide， but their supply remains uneven and heavily concentrated， turning access into a new front in strategic competition among major powers. As a result， supply chain priorities have shifted from a focus on economic efficiency to national security. Driven by its green transition goals， the European Union has seen a sharp increase in demand for critical raw materials. Yet much of this supply comes from abroad—particularly from China. In response， the EU has elevated critical raw materials to a strategic priority. It is now seeking to secure supply chains， localize production， and reduce its reliance on Chinese imports. This recalibration is likely to impact mutual trust and cooperation between China and the EU， particularly in green industries， and could accelerate the restructuring of China’s role in the global supply chain of critical raw materials. In the near term， however， Europe remains highly dependent on China in this field. Still， efforts to diversify supply are expected to intensify， with the EU placing growing strategic weight on building international partnerships. Despite uncertainties around the EU’s critical raw materials strategy， China should continue upholding the principles of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. Maintaining stable， constructive ties with the EU—by deepening mutual trust， expanding economic and trade cooperation， and strengthening supply chain resilience—will be key to navigating the shifting landscape of global resource competition.

Keywords： critical raw materials， green industry policy， China-EU relations， supply chain， new energy

U.S. New Layout on Critical Minerals in Indonesia： An Analysis from the Perspective of Structural Power

ZHANG Qiping and XU Liping

Abstract： Critical minerals have emerged as a major security issue shaping the evolution of global markets， finance， and technology. Competition over these resources is reshaping the global landscape of supply and demand， pricing power， technological capabilities， and perceptions of security. Against this backdrop， emerging resource-rich countries such as Indonesia are advancing critical mineral agendas on their own terms， shifting the balance of power within the international trade system in favor of Global South nations like China and Indonesia. In response， the United States has sought to counter this trend through interventionist measures. Since 2017， Washington has recalibrated its engagement with Indonesia’s critical minerals sector—a move that reflects its strategic anxiety over upstream vulnerabilities in the supply chain. This approach is highly targeted and politically charged. It has introduced complex dynamics into U.S.-China industrial competition and Indonesia’s domestic development， while doing little to enhance the overall stability of global supply chains. With Donald Trump returns to the White House， Indonesia’s strategic importance in U.S. critical minerals policy is likely to persist—and possibly grow. However， the U.S. approach suffers from obvious shortcomings in terms of resource commitment and development philosophy， making it unlikely to achieve its intended goals. For China， the U.S. experience offers both lessons and warnings. It underscores the importance of coupling overseas resource development with a more sustainable， strategic， and autonomous framework for ensuring national mineral security.

Keywords： critical minerals， structural power， Indonesia， great power competition