NORMALIZATION OF CHINA-NORWAY DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS 2016

Abstract

On December 19, 2016, China and Norway normalized political and diplomatic relations after bilateral relations deteriorated as a result of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese dissident activist Liu Xiaobo in 2010. What leaves many questions is China's will to normalize relations with Norway after six years of diplomatic tensions. China's political boycott of Norway started with all political meetings being cancelled, the Human Rights Dialogue and the proposed FTA that were being negotiated starting in 2008 were also postponed. China's retaliatory actions also included restrictions on Norwegians seeking visas from entering China, and disrupted business and academic relations.
This research is theoretically constructed using foreign policy theory. The formulation of all arguments, data, facts, and theoretical framework in this study uses a qualitative explanation method. This study also uses the nation-state as a level of analysis.
The result of this research show that China wants to normalize relations with Norway based on two factors. First, China and Norway realize that the two countries have broad common interests and have great potential to increase cooperation in many important areas, where normalization will help to increase quality of high-level visit, enhancing bilateral FTA negotiations and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as investment, hydropower, and offshore oil and gas exploitation. Second, the resumption of diplomatic relations would also benefit China, which sees more potential benefits coming from the North, the Arctic.
Keywords: FTA, Arctic Region, Diplomatic Relations