Foreign Policy Process

I feel the article is not factual. It is true that foreign policy matters to a country. It is a very crucial factor considering that people should coexist peacefully with each other. This paper explains how many people perceive public opinion. However, most of them cannot explain why it is so essential. According to the reading, there are many foreign policy issues that China has addressed in the past. She is still addressing other issues to date. As we see from the reading, in china, public policy is so crucial that the foreign ministry has to put it into consideration. This is present in cases where emotional content is high and opinion is mobilized. In the reading one may ask himself, why did China ally with the Soviet Union? The answer is specific to the extent that it is a question of public policy and opinion. I looked at reasons why this was strategic. For instance, there were extensive negotiations between Liu Shaoqi of China and Stalin of the Soviet Union. The two based these negotiations on economic, political and social status of the states they administered. Basically, this was an issue of foreign policy.

The issue of foreign policy is not determined by the public. Even if they might have their opinion on it, they do not have direct influence on it. This is why the foreign affairs ministry in the text is not able to explain how matters of foreign policy relate to the public. It is true that they consulted people on making decisions regarding the public, but is not clear how lack of consultation would cost the public. In addition, it does not explain how consultation may benefit the public. If we look at a brief history of foreign relations in China during Stalin’s time, there were extensive negotiations between Liu Shaoqi of China and Stalin of the Soviet Union. The two based these negotiations on social, economic and political development of the states they administered. The economic sanctions that the West imposed on China following her intervention in the Korean War also caused this development. The West includes the U.S and Britain. They forced China to get into economic problems after imposing sanctions on them. For this reason, China had to seek refuge. She lobbied support from the Soviet Union and the two entered an agreement. China received $300, 000, 0000 from USSR to help her restructure her economy then. Enmity between China and Japan also caused the friendship between the Soviet Union and China. Chiang Kai-shek felt that the war between China and Japan would be continuous. China would not be in a position to expel its enemy at this time. The war was a tough one. China leaned towards agriculture. Japan had military strength due to its modernization and progress technology wise.   China only had the advantage of a robust population. It was hardly possible for China, at that time a less developed and primarily agricultural country, to expel its enemy. Japan boasted the most modernized war machine and advanced industrial economy in Asia.  However, it was not easy for Japan to conquer China considering the vastness and population size of China. However, China had to seek “protection” form an equally powerful state. In this case, the Soviet Union was the available option considering that the two countries shared a lot in common. They exercised similar ideologies and were fighting for similar interests.

All the issues discussed above relate to foreign policy. However, at no time was the public consulted concerning any of these developments. If I look at this critically, I see a powerless public as far as public relations in concerned. The media may have a hand in presenting matters of public interest, but then not all issues are represented.