On December 15, Ambassador Cong Peiwu published a signed article titled “China as Global Unifier: FACTS vs FICTION ” on The Hill Times. Here is the full text:

"A nation that loves war, however great it may be, is sure to perish." While this Chinese dictum was written over 2,000 years ago, I would suggest, it has never been truer today.

FACT – China has always been focused primarily on safeguarding its lands and people. The Great Wall is one of China's most enduring symbols, one of defence and inward focus. 

FACT – Early Chinese explorers were focused on expanding trade, not on expanding lands. In the 15th century, the Chinese explorer Zheng He led the biggest fleet the world had ever seen in a series of exploratory voyages. He visited over thirty different countries and regions in the Indian Ocean and West Pacific, more than half a century before John Cabot ever set foot in Newfoundland. Zheng He never laid claim to those so-called new worlds he visited. Instead, his missions opened the door of east-west engagement through trade and friendship. 

These are just but a few examples of China's traditional diplomacy. Throughout our history, the Chinese people have always sought peace, harmony, and positive relationships.

China today remains committed to that same path towards peace.

FACT – We have never believed that a strong nation needs to impose its will on others. Throughout our modern history, from revolution and war, through to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, China has never started a war against another country and has never occupied an inch of foreign territory. Instead, China has pushed to create balanced and fair solutions to land border issues with twelve of its neighbouring countries. 

In the South China Sea, restraint has been the hallmark of our approach. We have always chosen to resolve disputes peacefully through negotiation and are fully committed to implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and to concluding a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, which will provide further institutional safeguards for peace and stability in the region.

FACT – China is a promoter of world peace, a contributor to global development and an upholder of the international order. Today, we are the second largest financial contributor to both the UN, and UN peacekeeping operations. Since 1990, China has sent over 50,000 peacekeepers on UN missions. China has provided nearly 1.9 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to 120+ countries and international organisations, and by the end of this year, that number will be more than 2 billion. 

FACT – China is striving to hit carbon perk by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. This turnaround of just 30 years between carbon peak and net zero carbon will be much faster than the USA, EU, and other developed countries.

FACT – China is committed to maintaining a global vision and to building a community with a shared future for mankind. This year is the 50th anniversary of China's resumption of our lawful seat at the UN. It marks 50 years of China's commitment to multilateralism, and 50 years of contributions to world peace and development. China achieved the UN Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule and is leading progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

FACT – China is a member of almost every global inter-governmental organisation and is a signatory to over 600 international treaties and amendments. We are committed to upholding the international order based on international law.

FACT – China believes in the principle of cooperation for mutual benefit. This year marks the 20th anniversary of China’s accession to the WTO. Over the last two decades, China has extended our economic reforms, fully opened up, embraced our responsibilities, and helped to make the world more prosperous. Over the last two decades, China has fully delivered on its accession commitments. Its overall tariff rate has been cut from 15.3 percent to 7.4 percent, lower than the 9.8 percent accession commitment. Over the last two decades, China’s economic size has grown to the 2nd largest in the world, trade in goods from the 6th to the 1st; China is now the biggest trading partner for over 50 countries and regions, and one of the top three trading partners for more than 120 others. 

FACT – We are both an engine and a stabiliser for global economic growth. Looking to the future, China will advance opening up on a larger scale, across more areas, and in greater depth. This will bring more opportunities for every country, including Canada.

FACT – China is also committed to protecting our national dignity and national interests. We are also eager to learn what lessons we can from the achievements of other cultures, and welcome helpful suggestions and constructive criticism. We will not, however, accept sanctimonious preaching from those who feel they have the right to lecture us. We believe that there is no such thing as a superior or inferior civilization, and civilizations are different only in identity and location. We should champion the common values of humanity, namely peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, and promote mutual accommodation and mutual learning between different systems and different cultures. 

This is China's path of engagement with the world and those are the facts.