The international environment in 2023 was far from peaceful, with the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict threatening to ignite the powder keg in the Middle East. As international issues continue to increase, major powers have a compelling obligation to enhance the well-being of the world. Following the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs (the Central Conference) was held in Beijing from Dec 27-28, 2023, during which several key points were raised on the role major countries should play in international affairs.
General Secretary Xi Jinping summarized the historic achievements of China’s major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics since the 18th CPC National Congress. These achievements include enhancing the autonomy and initiative of China’s diplomatic strategy, becoming a responsible major country with greater international influence, building innovative leadership, and enhancing moral appeal. It was also emphasized that in dealing with major issues concerning the future and destiny of humanity and the direction of world development, China should “maintain a clear stance, firmly occupy the moral high ground in international affairs, and unite to seek the support of the majority of the world”.
Many European and American media outlets interpreted China’s diplomatic strategy from a negative perspective. They questioned whether China was strengthening its “wolf warrior diplomacy” and adopting a more “assertive” approach to pursue its interests in diplomatic interactions. Some also pointed out that the United States has over 50 allies, including North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members, while China has yet to establish any alliances; they questioned China’s past diplomatic achievements. The fact is, China has been playing an active and constructive role in international affairs, which is beneficial for global peace and stability. For example, through Chinese diplomatic mediation, long-standing rivals in the Middle East — Iran and Saudi Arabia — restored diplomatic relations after seven years of estrangement. The number of alliances is not necessarily an indicator of diplomatic success. On the contrary, many historical international conflicts have been instigated by alliances driven by self-interest. Diplomatic strategies should draw lessons from history. The Central Conference proposed the concept of “apply systems thinking with a correct understanding of history and of the big picture, navigate the prevailing trends, adopt a coordinated approach, and seize the initiative”. The remote causes of the outbreak of World War I were the complex alliance relationships between the two major camps, the Allies and the Central Powers, which resulted in a serious arms race, tense relations, and the involvement of multiple countries in regional conflicts that eventually escalated into a world war.
Large-scale alliance camps have more disadvantages than benefits in international relations, especially those with a military nature. Since the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the disintegration of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, the Cold War ended. However, regional defense cooperation organizations that counterbalanced the Warsaw Pact during the Cold War, such as NATO, have continued to exist and expand. The possession of a large number of nuclear weapons and conventional forces by member countries has caused concern among many countries, especially Russia, which is located near several NATO countries. Declassified documents from the US National Archives have confirmed that then-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev received promises from then-US president George HW Bush and then-British prime minister Margaret Thatcher that NATO would not expand eastward. However, the subsequent expansion of NATO, in violation of their commitments, was one of the main reasons for the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022.
This initiative goes beyond mere alliances based on political, military or economic interests, and considers the future and destiny of each nation as closely connected, jointly facing global challenges in politics, security, the economy, culture and ecology
These historical lessons highlight the foresight of China’s commitment to independent and nonaligned diplomacy and its embodiment of the role of a major country. China’s adherence to the nonaligned principle allows it to avoid taking sides in international conflicts, enabling it to play a moderating role in recent international affairs and conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts. It also benefits China in building a high-quality global network of partnerships and contributing to global peace and stability.
Then-US national security adviser Henry Kissinger’s secret visit to China in 1971, known as the “ice-breaking trip”, was achieved because his diplomatic thinking transcended the frameworks of alliances, ideologies and the Cold War situation. It laid the foundation for the normalization of US-China relations and contributed to the end of the Cold War, leading the world toward peace and stability. He also promoted the signing of the first and second Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties (SALT) between the US and the Soviet Union, avoiding the risk of a nuclear war during the Cold War. Unfortunately, today’s US government has reverted to a Cold War mentality, seeking hegemony by intensifying pressure on China and other “unfriendly” countries in politics and economics, even disregarding opposition from domestic businesses in launching a trade war and imposing tech bans on China.
Against this international background, the Central Conference proposed that China must uphold fundamental principles and break new ground. China’s diplomatic approach rejects all acts of power politics and bullying, and vigorously defends its national interests and dignity.
As The Analects of Confucius states, “The noble man is firm in his positions, but does not wrangle. He readily makes friends, but doesn’t belong to a clique.” Although the US has allies predominantly in the Asia-Pacific and Europe, it often acts out of self-interest, siding with like-minded countries and disregarding the impact on other nonallied nations such as Arab and African countries in significant issues like political, economic and climate issues. China’s nonaligned “major-country diplomacy” seeks equality among nations and humanity, and it has consistently pursued this goal in the past. Through initiatives like the high-quality Belt and Road Initiative cooperation, China engages in pragmatic cooperation with participating countries, providing support in terms of technology, funding and experience to promote economic development in countries along the route. China also aims to build a community with a shared future for mankind, cooperating with various regions and countries to establish partnerships. This initiative goes beyond mere alliances based on political, military or economic interests, and considers the future and destiny of each nation as closely connected, jointly facing global challenges in politics, security, the economy, culture and ecology.
Ivan Chu is a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.
Edward Wong is a researcher of the Hong Kong Sustainable Development Research Institute.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
