Bates Gill - Daring to Struggle: Chinas Global Ambitions Under Xi Jinping

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Oxford University Press 2022

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Gill, Bates, author.
Title: Daring to struggle : Chinas global ambitions under Xi Jinping /
Bates Gill.
Description: New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2022. |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022001977 (print) | LCCN 2022001978 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780197545645 (hardback) | ISBN 9780197545669 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: ChinaForeign relations21st century. | ChinaForeign
economic relations. | ChinaMilitary policy. |
GeopoliticsIndo-Pacific Region. | Xi, Jinping
Classification: LCC JZ1734 . G559 2022 (print) | LCC JZ1734 (ebook) |
DDC 327.51dc23/eng/20220218
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022001977
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022001978

ISBN 9780197545645

eISBN 9780197545669

DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780197545645.001.0001

To Chris and J.P.

Where words fail, music speaks.

Hans Christian Andersen

Book writing affords many pleasures. Chief among them is thanking those who had a hand in the books fruition. After all, while writing can be a solitary enterprise, the writer is never truly alone. Instead, in the long hours of transforming thoughts to page, I find myself surrounded by the ideas and insights of colleagues past and present, old and new, all engaged in profound and raucous debate. The global community of China-watchers has changed over the past 40 years, as has China itself. But I have always benefitted from a spirit of kinship among that communitywhether in the Americas, Africa, Europe, the Indo-Pacific, or in Chinadrawn together by an abiding fascination with Chinese culture, language, history, and the countrys current affairs. While this books words are my own, they are enriched by the work of so many who endeavor to understand Chinas growing impactfor better and for worseon our world.

Specifically, my profound thanks go to all those who took the time to comment on all or parts of the works initial drafts, provide timely advice, or share valuable insights, information, and assistance over the course of the project, from conception to completion. These esteemed colleagues include Dennis Blasko, Chris Buckley, Mathieu Duchtel, Elizabeth Economy, John Fitzgerald, Chas Freeman, Evelyn Goh, Eric Hagt, Peter Hamman, Kai He, Chin-hao Huang, Yun Jiang, Alastair Iain Johnston, Eunok Lee, Evan Medeiros, Adam Ni, James Reilly, David Shambaugh, and Tom Waldman. My thanks as well to my students in the 2020 Professional and Community Engagement (PACE) program at Macquarie University for their research contributions.

In addition, many colleagues in China have been generous with their time and insights over the years, helping me better understand the country and its people. Unfortunately, politics and the pandemic have combined to put greater distance between us, but I continue to learn from you.

A grateful vote of thanks also goes to the anonymous experts who, tasked by Oxford University Press, helpfully provided thorough and constructive feedback to improve the final product in numerous ways. These folks collectively contributed much to strengthening the book; the remaining flaws are my own.

I was also fortunate to affiliate with a number of institutions over the past several years that provided me with both the time and collegial intellectual atmosphere to think, test ideas, write, and publish. My former department chair Ben Schreer, with support from Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research Sakkie Praetorius and Dean Martina Mllering, brought me on board to Macquarie University in 2017 and encouraged this book project from the start. A productive stint as the inaugural Scholar in Residence with the Asia Society Australia between 2020 and 2022 offered numerous occasions to sharpen my thinking; engage with leading experts, officials, and business executives; and promote my ideas. Many thanks to the organizations leadershipChief Executive Officer Philipp Ivanov and Executive Director Thomas Soemand their entire team for the opportunity to work with them. It has also been an honor and pleasure to serve since 2020 as a Senior Associate Fellow with the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, and I extend my grateful thanks to colleagues there, especially RUSIs director-general Karin von Hippel as well as Neil Melvin and Veerle Nouwens.

David McBride, my editor at Oxford University Press in New York, has supported this book from the day we first discussed its outlines in early 2020. He has marshaled a remarkable catalog on China-related topics in recent years, and I am delighted to publish with OUP once again and be a part of that tradition.

Beyond these professional circles, many others catalyzed my work and encouraged the books progress in ways large and small. To my mates on the North Sydney Bears baseball club, thanks for the many years of friendship and making this Yank feel welcome, the chance to play the game I love, and a once-weekly respite from work-a-day worries. Our much-loved Airedale, Mojowhether snoozing softly at my feet or encouraging me to get out for some fresh airwas a constant companion and ready reminder of the good things in life.

Three people in particular deserve special thanks. In dedicating this book to Chris Simpson and J. P. Fisher, I was drawn to the words of Kurt Vonnegut, who wrote, Virtually every writer I know would rather be a musician. These two dear and talented friends encouraged that volition in me, for which I am forever grateful. Finally, my greatest thanks and appreciation go to Dr. Sarah Palmer, my loving wife (and resident virologist), who remains as always a never-ending source of inspiration and great joy, just as she has been since we first started life together in China more than 35 years ago.

Bates Gill

Balmain East, New South Wales, Australia

February 2022

All the struggle, sacrifice, and creation through which the Party has united and led the Chinese people over the past hundred years has been tied together by one ultimate themebringing about the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Xi Jinping, July 2021

What does China want from the world? I asked. An old and dear colleague from China, now well established in Shanghai and among the most privileged persons in the country, responded with an unexpected passion: To be respected in the world and receive our due. You will have to get used to it. Despite and because of our great friendship, I was more concerned than consoled.