ABSTRACT
Since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations began, China's negotiation positions over the years reflect both continuities and changes. The concept of mitigation in the present context refers to the action of reducing the intensity of radiative force for reducing the likely impacts of climate change. Contractual theorists argue that China's reputation is a significant driver of negotiation preference. The global condemnation of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown caused much concern about international isolation and the related negative effects on China's export-oriented economy. The likelihood of acquiring foreign technologies and attract foreign investments is a key reason for China's altered preferences concerning the clean development mechanism (CDM) initiative. China was originally sceptical of the idea, and the Chinese decision-makers in particular viewed it as a loophole purposely created by the developed countries to help them escape from their commitments in tackling climate change.
