THE INFLUENCE OF CHINA IN THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM:

CHINESE REINTEGRATION AND UN PEACE OPERATIONS AS AN INSTRUMENT TO NATIONA INTERESTS’ DEFENSE

Abstract

Beginning in an era of bipolar relations and progressing according to which this Cold War’s bipolarity fragmented, giving place to North American hegemony, China constitutes itself as an alternative market and power with decision-making power regarding the traditional Western powers such as the United States, United Kingdom and France. The defense of multi-polarization and the multilateralism of international relations and decisions constitute a key part of China’s foreign policy, allied to the defense of the principles of sovereignty, self-determination, defense of national interests and national security, physical integration of the national space and internal market’s promotion. Thus, through a literature review, this paper aimed to understand in which way the People’s Republic of China has influence in decision making in the international scenario regarding foreign policy factors. From a historical analysis, this study identified the aspects that made the country reach the diplomatic position that it is today. Among them, we can mention the Cultural Revolution, the Sino-Soviet schism, the explosion of the first Chinese atomic bomb and the closest approach with the United States. In addition, the study highlighted the activism of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations peacekeeping missions as a way of measuring its influence on the International System, as well as analyzing, through this activism, the search for national interests and the defense of multilateralism.