The Past in the Present of Chinese International Development Cooperation
Tracing the origins of the core principles of China’s foreign aid—political non-interference and aid for independent development—to the early days of the People’s Republic of China, this essay shows how historical memory continues to play a significant role in China’s interactions with developing countries today. It also argues that China’s foreign aid from the past to the present has to be understood as an externalisation of China’s quest for development, modernisation, and independence.