Implications of Chinese Netizen on Chinese Foreign Policy: Focusing on Netizen's Response After the North Korea's Third Nuclear Test

Abstract

Abstract

Implications of Chinese Netizen on Chinese Foreign Policy: Focusing on Netizens Response After the North Koreas Third Nuclear Test

Lee Soo KIM International Area Studies (Chinese) The Graduate School Seoul National University

China and North Korea has seen a chill in their relationship under the new leadership of Xi Jinping. No summit meetings between China and the North, whereas China has already held several summit meetings with the South, is the embodiment of the stalemate relationship. According to some scholars and media reports, netizens are the main factors behind the Chinese attitude changes. In other words, netizens are the most influential variables in Chinese foreign policy. However, increases in the significance of netizens does not mean that netizens hold the leverage to the Chinese foreign policy. In fact, netizens ability to set the public issue and lead the public sentiment are just one part that needs to be considered in Chinese foreign policy making process. For instance, anti-Japanese demonstrations in 2005 and 2012 were initiated by the netizen via online discussion, yet were closed by the government. As such, it is the government that holds the key to open and close the online space. Also, it is the government who decides to adopt the public opinion or not. Therefore, this paper tries to figure out the scope of netizens influence in Chinese foreign policy. On the surface, netizen appears to have substantial influence. Nevertheless, even the online space belongs to the government on the inside. In order to analyze the impact of netizens, netizens responses after the third nuclear test and Chinese North Korean policy changes will be studied. Also, the responses after the third nuclear test will be compared with the 2005, 2012 anti-Japanese demonstration cases.