DISSERTATION PROJECT

Taking Sides or Staying Neutral: Making Sense of China’s Neutrality in International Conflicts

In times of apparent disintegration of the global world order, the question of what constitutes national sovereignty and responsibility is more pertinent than ever. Despite the existence of the common security under the United Nations, there have always been times when countries have unilaterally interfered in other countries’ affairs through military action or economic pressure, thus abrogating their sovereignty. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the USA’s economic pressure on Cuba and military intervention in Iran and Venezuela are just the most recent examples. Thus, the main question is whether sovereignty is sacrosanct and, if so, whose sovereignty and under what circumstances it can be violated.

According to international law, all countries are equal, and interference is only permitted under special circumstances, which are not present in the aforementioned examples. China’s 5 Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which it claims are anchored in international law, forbid interference and the violation of state sovereignty. In fact, this stance is viewed as neutrality by much of the global community. However, Western scholarly debate on the topic, as well as internal debate among Chinese intellectuals, chip away at this image of neutrality. Additionally, analyses of various conflicts show that China does not strictly apply its neutrality but rather finds creative ways to interpret it.

When certain norms and laws seem to disappear or weaken, the question emerges as to what is considered normal in the present time and space. This dissertation aims to trace changes in China’s application and understanding of neutrality and the expectations and perceptions of other countries regarding China’s position. Ultimately, it seeks to understand what is normal and expected of China in terms of interference in international conflicts. More generally, however, the dissertation seeks to trace the role of neutrality and its future potential in global security.

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

Funded Excursions

• ECPR Methods School: Survey Design, online, organized by the European Consortium for Political Research, Feb 25–27, 2026.