Tread softly ahead

Thirty-two years ago this week, Deng Xiaoping made a historic decision to end the Maoist policy of class struggle, with its incessant political campaigns, and shift the country's focus to economic construction. The Third Plenary Session of the Communist Party's 11th Central Committee, which met from December 18 to 22, 1978, decided to drop the policy of 'taking class struggle as the key link'.

In the 32 years since, China's success in economic development has been astounding. In 1978, China accounted for less than one per cent of the world economy and its foreign trade was insignificant. Today, it is the world's second-largest economy, and is probably more powerful than it has ever been.

Traditionally, China considered itself to be a civilised society surrounded by barbarians. Now, it says that it deals on a basis of equality with all countries, big or small. Its influence today extends to every corner of the world. Even American allies, such as Japan, South Korea and Australia, trade more now with China than they do with the United States.

China has reason to be proud of its many achievements. But this is also a time for caution. Deng wisely advised China to adopt a low profile internationally and not to be confrontational but, in recent months, China has adopted an increasingly assertive foreign policy.

One example is the dispute with Japan over the Diaoyu Islands. Deng advocated a policy of shelving the dispute while seeking joint development of natural resources. This is a policy that should be continued.

Recently, after the incident of a Chinese fishing trawler ramming two Japanese coastguard vessels, Japan arrested the captain and threatened to try him according to Japanese domestic law. China protested vigorously and, in the aftermath, the Japanese released the captain.