China's Foreign Policy Agenda: 8 Essential Insights

September 27, 2024

Last Friday, the Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT) hosted a conference on “China's Foreign Policy Agenda: Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind”.

Thousands joined globally to watch two expert panels discuss China’s foreign policy and geopolitics. Many thousands more have since watched and commented on the recordings. This highlights the great level of interest in China—that there is real appetite for balanced perspectives, fresh insights, and inside views on China that are frequently neglected by mainstream media.

I had the honour of moderating both Prof. Kerry Brown's keynote Q&A session and the first panel discussion on “China’s Foreign Policy and its International Ambitions” with Dr. Tim Summers , Prof. Zhang Jian, and Adj. Professor Warwick Powell 鲍韶山.

I also want to thank Prof. Alejandro Reyes (芮安卓), who expertly moderated the second panel on “International Perspectives of China’s Foreign Policy” with Dr. Philani Mthembu, Prof. Daojiong Zha, Mr. Colin Heseltine, Prof. C. Raja Mohan, and Prof. Anna Malindog-Uy.

Here are a few key highlights from the conference discussions:

1 — Decision-making in China is not what you think.

Orders from the top come in the form of broad, overarching principles, such as common prosperity or technological advancement. These are cascaded down the layers of government below, where the task of interpretation takes place. People commonly assume that there is excessive governance at the top when, in reality, the problem can be the opposite. Most challenges about understanding Chinese foreign policy often stem from misinterpretation of the framing and language as well as a lack of comprehension of the structural issues.

2 — China views the world through a holistic lens. 

China’s perceptions are rooted in the interconnectedness of all things, which are at odds with the Western/European model of dualism. Refusing to accept alternative views of the world is a mentality that is largely perpetuated by the West's belief in its right and obligation to impose its version of the world on others. The tensions from such opposing beliefs have become more prominent with the rise of China on the world stage.

3 — Language has critical context. 

From a nation where four-character idioms are analysed in lengthy academic dissertations, China’s foreign policy is often lost in translation. The deceptively simple act of translating the language into English invites deep challenges of its own. The phrase “A Global Community of Shared Future” is well-understood by the Chinese, yet it is widely open to interpretation in English and unfortunately even arrogantly dismissed.

4 — Chinese foreign policy is a work-in-progress. 

It is an evolutionary process that is both intellectual and practical. Chinese foreign policy draws upon a multitude of influences—from a rich history of Chinese statecraft, philosophical thinking, and their own interpretation of modern practical experiences. It also seeks to learn from the rest of the world as needed.

5 — Philippines-China: More than just the South China Sea. 

The issues in the South China Sea are complex and involve multiple players. The Philippines and Western mainstream media's hyper focus on territorial disputes have been eroding valuable relations between the two countries. China is the Philippines’s largest trading partner, through economic ties, human connections, and political relations. Attention has been detracted from these positive aspects which should be brought forward in negotiations and diplomatic talks.

6 — India-China: Bilateral negotiations are the way forward. 

Conflicts of interest in border disputes and sizeable trade deficits have led to growing tensions between the two countries in recent years. However, we should be careful in including other actors to assist in defusing tensions. Noting that geopolitical considerations are always present, there is no better substitute for resolving issues than through bilateral negotiations.

7 — Africa's “debt trap” originated from the West. 

African countries owe most of their debt to the Paris Club, which includes multilateral development banks and private creditors in the West. Before China entered the picture in the 2000s, there was much criticism within Africa over the conditions attached to Western financing, which continues to have significant knock-on impacts on policymaking and Africa’s development.

8 — War should be avoided at all costs. 

Any form of conflict, especially a hot war, between China and the United States will be a global disaster at an unprecedented scale. It will impact all supply chains, the international economy, and the global community. The stakes, therefore, cannot be any higher. Everyone must be cognisant of this and focus all efforts towards peace and stability.

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For anyone who was unable to attend the conference or would like to revisit the discussions, the recordings can be found on GIFT's YouTube channel here. 

Prof. Kerry Brown's Keynote Speech and Q&A ⇢ Watch here.

Panel 1 – China’s Foreign Policy and its International Ambitions ⇢ Watch here. 

Panel 2 – International Perspectives on China’s Foreign Policy ⇢ Watch here.

Chandran Nair

Founder of Asia's leading independent think tank, Consultant, Author, Entrepreneur, Sports coach