China | Party congress outlines roadmap for international diplomacy

China's President Xi Jinping recently delivered a report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). One of the highlights from the report was Xi’s thoughts on Chinese foreign policy/diplomacy. It was pointed out that over the past decade, China has “comprehensively promoted major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, promoted the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, promoted the building of a new type of international relations, and actively participated in the reform and construction of the global governance system”. President Xi further stressed that, “China is dedicated to promoting global community with shared future,” and “ to pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace;” he also expressed his strong reservation against “all forms of hegemonism and power politics, the Cold War mentality, interference in other countries’ internal affairs, and double standards”.

To contextualise President Xi’s words, it is important to understand that in the CPC’s history, three factors have been considered important for formulating effective foreign policy: 1) accurately judging the international situation; 2) correctly handling the relationship between domestic affairs and foreign affairs; 3) “knowing oneself and the enemy”, i.e. to understand the limits in one’s own strengths and weaknesses and that of one’s adversaries.

In the last few months, there has been rising concern in China regarding the turbulent international environment. In the Chinese assessment, the current international political and economic situation is “the most severe and turbulent since the end of the Second World War, 77 years ago.” It is argued that the world structure today is undergoing major flux, transformation and adjustment, with international balance of power witnessing a clear shift in China’s favour. As a result, this has become an era of endless challenges and increasing risks; of instability and uncertainty where Cold War mentality and bloc politics are resurgent; unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise; economic globalisation is facing adverse currents; and peace deficit, development deficit, trust deficit, and governance deficit are ever increasing.

Against this backdrop, there is a question gaining traction in China in recent months: Under “great changes unseen in a century, does the important strategic opportunity period for China’s development still exist?” On 24 June 2022, President Xi, at a high-level dialogue on global development, addressed this question to a certain extent, when he noted that, “China’s development is still in a period of important strategic opportunities, but both opportunities and challenges are witnessing new developments and changes.” Now, in this new era, what should China’s “major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics” look like? This can help the country achieve its second centenary goal—”building a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, and harmonious by 2049”—and realise the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This question is one of the critical issues that is being vigorously debated and discussed within the Chinese strategic circles.