Soon we are going to see the 20th century out and the 21st in to hail the advent of a new millennium. In 1999, we have seen many eventualities and changes of things in international situation deserving serious consideration of us.

A mono-polar strategy has long been hatched by the US for world hegemony due to an unbalanced formation of political forces taking place in defiance of a universal demand for the construction of a multi-polar world. Problems therefore arise in preventing the world powers from a smooth development of relations. Things are almost the same with many countries in some regions noted for some unexpected hot issues unsolved. Though there is no peace to speak of in the world today, peace remains still the main trend and demand of the world people. Peace and development form likewise the thematic subjects of the time and the irresistible trend of the world. Multi-polarization is irreversible. Economic globalization has already been on its way and has brought with it profound influences on the development of economies in various countries. New opportunities are provided as in the way new challenges are presented for the peoples throughout the world. There is the hope without doubt for things to be turned out for the better in the coming new century but difficulties will all the same be in our way head.

Neo-interventionism Threatens World Peace;

Kosovo War Stalls Multi-polar Advance

This year has seen the US enters its 9th year of economic growth. The US likewise covers up no longer its wildest hegemonic ambition to set up a US-brand mono-polar world for a greatly swollen economic force to be relied upon. US strategic expansionism has with a gathering force posed the greatest threat to world peace and setting up of a multi-polar world.

Instigated by the US, NATO has already accepted Poland, Czechoslovak and Hungary as new members in completing its first phase of eastward expansion. This is a thing done in last spring. A follow-up effort is that it has brought out its "New Strategic Concepts" for expecting new conquests. As a new continuation and development of the "strategy to cope with crises", the "Concepts" show that NATO has already been turned from a regional collective for "military defense" into a military bloc out completely on the offensive.

The Western powers have with the US at their head actively spread the theory on "human rights transcending sovereignty". Facts tell that by putting it into practice in international relations between countries is literally to mean hegemonic "neo-interventionism". Typical is its military attacks carried out on Yugoslavia, being a dress rehearsal of NATO's "New Strategic Concepts" outside the territory of NATO member countries.

A 78-day air strike had been carried out on Yugoslavia by NATO with the US at its head starting from March 24 this year. Heavy death tolls and property losses had been wrought to the Yugoslavian people by its wanton bombing in Yugoslavia. Being a military bloc, NATO has even been so unscrupulous as to wantonly bomb the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia.

NATO has been by launching armed attack on Yugoslavia the first instance of its carrying out of armed aggression to interfere in the affairs of a non-NATO sovereign nation since its founding without the authorization of the UN. This is in complete violation of the UN Charter and international norms of law governing the relations between countries, posing direct challenge to the authority of the UN and a serious threat to world peace and stability.

Along with NATO pushing with its "New Strategic Concepts" the US has with Japan further put forward their "New Guidelines of Defense" toward the end a military alliance is to be formed with Europe and Japan to create a situation to encircle Eurasia. With these is also a TMD system by the US in an attempt to cover China's Taiwan to show the long-planned design of the new centennial global strategy of the US and its capability for seizing control of international affairs. This reflects the international status of the US as "the only superpower of the world". Since the international political forces have been in an unbalanced state and challenges met from the hegemonic power as the US a genuine multi-polarization will be naturally a long arduous course to take.

But contrary to the hegemonic ambition of the US to set up a mono-polar world, strong opposition has been raised by people from various quarters of the world. Russia as a world power is one. It has voiced its strong opposition to any threat or neo-intervention from the US. Meanwhile, China has gained a great growth in its overall strength, a country that has demonstrated its full importance for protecting world peace and stability. The role of other developing countries and multi-nation groups must also be counted upon likewise. Moreover, the US is in no way to erase its contradictions with its European counterparts and Japan and these will continue to exist even after a strengthening of force having been achieved by the European countries and a recovery of economy by Japan. The EU countries, especially France, though they had participated in the military strike against Yugoslavia, all stand for a pan-Europe role in international affairs. This is as evidenced by the support they have given somewhat openly or covertly to the stand for multi-polarization and the steps they have taken in building a complete independent European defense system of their own. Alongside these, the great majority of countries have also explicitly expressed their stand to back up the effort to build a multi-polar world. It goes without saying the US attempting to run amuck as a hegemonic power to take into control of the whole world has been limited by multiple factors and forces throughout the world. So it can not do as it pleases. Multi-polarization is without doubt an irreversible historical trend.

Irrespective of Many Eventualities and Changes of Things

a stable International Situation is still developed

The Kosovo war has its ill impacts on the relations between big powers. This has made it all the more imperative for a readjustment to be made of their relationship after the Cold War for instability rises on a world scale due to a lessening of mutual trust among the big powers.

NATO's eastward march and armed attack on Yugoslavia have brought harm to the interests of Russia not to say hurting the national feeling of the Russian people. Consequent upon these, retrogression has been seen of relations between Russia and the US and its NATO countries.

Between China and the US there has been met a lot of troubles. A handful of US congressmen concocted a so-called "Cox Report" falsely accusing China of theft of US nuclear secret. By violating the "August 17" communique the US has even decided to sell sophisticated weaponry to Taiwan in whipping up the arrogance of Lee Teng-hui for national separatism. A thing most intolerable is that US-led NATO missile attacked the Chinese embassy in Belgrade and this has aroused great anger and wide protests of the Chinese Government and the Chinese people. The Sino-US relations have been found all the more at the lowest point.

Soon after the Kosovo war dust subsided, leaders in various countries have come to realize the importance for building up stable relationships between the big powers and even have various efforts made to that end. The 7th Informal Meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation was held at Auckland in last September. President Jiang Zemin had met with President Clinton during the meeting. They both agreed that China and the US make continued effort to build constructive strategic partnership oriented toward the 21st century. On November 15, China reached an accord with the US on the country's entry into the WTO. This will play an active role in developing Sino-US relations. But if the US sticks to its stand in violation from time to time of the three Sino-US communiques the development of relations between the two countries will still not be plain sailing.

This year, President Jiang Zemin has been twice on a state visit to Europe and this has brought about a further development of relations between China and the European countries.

Russia had first voiced strong opposition to NATO's Kosovo war. But it gradually retreated and took a flexible stand in playing a part as mediator. With the Western countries it took part in working out the "8-power group" program to force considerable concessions from Yugoslavia. Soon after the Kosovo war was put an end to, Russia began the effort to repair its relations with the US. At the 8-power summit, Russia immediately voiced its desire to "make friends" with the West. Soon a Russia-US summit followed. But still no conflicts of interests between Russia and the US can be ruled out. Wrangling over disputes arises from time to time on a series of problems as the "anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty" and Russia's crackdown on Chechen bandits.

By now, a somewhat closer relationship seems to have been developed by Russia with its European counterparts. Early in June, the EU adopted a "Common Strategy in Dealing with Russia". In last October, a Russia-Europe summit was held at Helsinki. This is a summit for a strengthening of Russia-Europe cooperation and mapping out the blueprint for Russia-Europe relationship in the future to be known as "an important event marking the development of Europe-Russia relations by the turn of the century".

As things stand in the relations between China and Russia this year, Sino-Russia strategic partnership has continued to develop in depth and scale. In last August, President Jiang Zemin attended the 4th summit of five countries including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia and Tadzhikistan, held at Bishkek. In December, President Yeltsin was seen on a visit to China and had the second informal summit held with President Jiang in Beijing. Early this year, Premier Zhu Rongji made a successful visit to Russia, deciding on developing wide cooperation of China with Russia in various fields.

New Hot Spots Rise While Small-scale Wars Persist

Hopes Appear for an Ease of Heat in Old Hot Spots

As things are shown this year, there has appeared a deterioration of the situation in international security and an escalation of competition for armaments since the Kosovar war.

A proliferation of nuclear arms and large-scale lethal weaponry has become all the more difficult to be put under control as a result of the Kosovo war. With a large-scale defense system mapped out over the last 14 years, the US has raised the demand for a revision of the anti-ballistic missile treaty. Meanwhile, by making known its firm stand against the attempt for a revision of the anti-ballistic missile treaty, Russia steps up its effort to research and develop high-efficiency missile series. Against this, Belorussia is also considering redeployment of its strategic missiles. India and Pakistan have carried out tests on medium-range and long-distance nuclear weaponry. With these there are also a number of developing countries. For fear of becoming new targets of Western neo-interventionism they are making efforts to develop large-scale nuclear lethal weaponry of their own.

Conflicts have increased in many vulnerable spots the world over; wars have even broken out on a localized scale.

India had fought with Pakistan over India-controlled Kashmir for more than a month resulting in a death toll of over 1,000 from both sides.

East Timor, after a public referendum on national autonomy was made known, has seen many conflicts between opposing groups and a further deterioration of social order over the land. The UN has consequently decided on dispatching an international peace-keeping force to maintain order in the country.

Russian Chechen terrorists make trouble in Tadzhikistan. They have claimed many terrorist activities in Moscow. Since September the Russian government has been all out for a large-scale military crackdown on the Chechen terrorists.

A tense situation is still being found between the two sides on the Korean Peninsula.

The US and Britain are still carrying out military attacks on Iraq and have even extended their attacks to Baghdad resulting in an intensification of situation in the Gulf region.

Incomplete figures show that localized wars and armed conflicts that have broken out throughout the world this year have reached as many as 40 to represent a growth over those last year. Of these, some have even shown greater intensity and influence rarely seen in recent years.

On the other hand, there has appeared some ease on the tense situation in some hot spots of the world.

In last September, PLO Chairman Arafat formally signed an agreement for carrying out the Wye Agreement with Israeli Premier Barak in Egypt. Palestine-Israel peace talks have made much headway.

By the end of November, Ireland set up the first power-share government known to its history. The Ireland Republic Army's political body Sinn Fein has been formally accepted as a government organization, generally claimed as a historic event marking the advance of peace by people in North Ireland.

The African countries also rise to unite to build themselves up and strive for a strengthening of strength in handling local conflicts. People have seen this year busy diplomacy that has been carried out by countries in North Africa. Under the mediation of some African countries, the two antagonistic parties of the Sudan have declared cease-fire to reopen their talks for peace. Conflicting parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo have even applied their signatories to a cease-fire agreement, resulting in a withdrawal of international peace-keeping force. The civil war parties in Sierra Leone have also signed an agreement to put an end to their conflicts for peace.

Though NATO had carried out 78 days' frenzied bombing on Yugoslavia yet it finally had to go back to the UN table for solutions to problems to be found in a peaceful way. The UN has come still to be universally accepted as an international organization for maintaining world peace.

This year there has been seen a stable development of the world economy. This is especially so for things in the second half of this year. A growth has been achieved by most economies of the world though risks and hidden perils are predicted.

A continuous development of economic globalization has brought with it profound influence on economic development in various countries. At a time around the turn of the century, efforts are being made by various countries to work out new strategies for making new economic advances in the coming new century. Technologies have shown their due role in economic development. What is more, the transnational companies have acquired increased influence on the development of the world economy. An integration of local economies has made some progress and an important indicator of this is Euro has been formally introduced in contributing to the setting up of a unified European market.

We are now near the end of the year. China has reached an accord with the US on the country's entry into the WTO, thereby removing the biggest obstacle to the country's entry into this world organization. With a population of over 1.2 billion, China's entry will not only benefit the country itself it will also benefit the whole world.

A new century and a new millennium are approaching us. Economic globalization brings with it new opportunities and challenges as well. On the one hand, we will see a strengthening of mutual reliance by the whole of mankind under heaven. On the other, there will be a great intensification of competition and a growth of overall national strength by various countries throughout the world.

When we look into the future, things may be unpredictable on the international arena. But peace and development as two chief themes of the time will remain as they are. "No sights of green mountains can be hid away while the green waters flow on forever." People want peace and development, this will not change. They want share their civilizations and want a more prosperous world in the coming 21st century, this has become an important thematic subject that calls for serious consideration by the people of various nations and their leaders throughout the world. (By People's Daily Staff Reporters Xu Hongzhi and Huang Qing)