Looking back at Xi's diplomacy(2)

Changing the tune

Xi took power at a time of profound and complex changes in the interactions between China and the world. The international community is concerned with the nature of China's growing global presence and whether it will seek hegemony in Asia and challenge the international pattern that has been dominated by the West since the end of WWII. Xi seemingly has already given a clear answer. In a November speech at the Federal Parliament of Australia in Canberra, Xi noted a durable truth when he said that despite its large size, China's forefathers over 2,000 years ago realized that a warlike country, however big it might be, is bound to collapse. Xi vowed that China will remain unshakable in its resolve to pursue peaceful and common development, and will continue to follow a win-win strategy of opening up.

At the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs held from November 28 to 29 in Beijing, Xi called for the development of a distinctive diplomatic approach befitting China's status as a major country. "We should, on the basis of summing up our past practice and experience, enrich and further develop our diplomatic perceptions as well as conduct diplomacy with a salient Chinese character and a Chinese vision," he said.

The outside world paid close attention to Xi's speech. Some observers claim that the conference sent a message that China is giving up the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping's diplomatic stance of "keeping a low profile," while some others believe it is a kind of policy of mollification to the international community. These views are narrow and one-sided. China is dedicated to development under the current international system. In the meantime, it is becoming more active and confident in participating in international affairs. China strives to international situation instead of following the beaten path. China is in fact making efforts to incorporate its own progress much more closely with the world's development.

The resurgence of populism is one of the major features of the international situation in 2014. China's peaceful development strategy is also challenged by sentiments of ultra-nationalism and military adventurism at home. But Xi has determined to resist such distracting forces and kept a clear mind.

Adjusted scenarios

While focusing on Asia, Xi's diplomacy presents a trend of building strategic partnerships widely with both the East and the West, paving the way for China's status as a major country in the world.

Xi's diplomacy places particular emphasis on neighboring countries. His 2014 visits included trips to Russia, Mongolia and South Korea, respectively. When hosting the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, China also invited leaders of neighboring countries that are non-APEC members including Mongolia, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Bangladesh to Beijing for the dialogue devoted to strengthening interconnectivity partnerships.

Under Xi's leadership, China's diplomatic approach has moved away from overemphasizing stable China-US relations to focusing on more balanced relations with major players in the international community. While exploring ways to build a new type of major-country relations with the United States featuring no conflict and no confrontation, China also actively deepens its strategic partnership with Russia, the EU and India, promoting the trend of multi-polarization. On the Ukraine crisis, China refuses to pick sides. It neither participates in the Western sanctions against Russia, nor does it join hands with Russia to confront with the West. Rather, it works to promote the settlement of the crisis through political dialogue.

Though China-US relations have seen ups and downs in the past year due to friction over trade, human rights, cyber security, the South China Sea and Hong Kong issues, their overall bilateral ties have maintained positive momentum.

In November, US President Barack Obama paid his second visit to China since taking office. Xi and Obama had in-depth talks, during which they reiterated the consensus on building a new type of major-country relations between the world's two largest economies. The two countries also agreed to enhance cooperation on a wide range of topics including climate change, investment and military exchanges.

However, within the United States there exists growing anxiety toward China's rapid development within the United States. Despite Obama's frequent reiteration that the United States welcomes a peaceful and prosperous China and has no intention of containing China, his administration acts as though they view China as a major competitor and insists on the advancement of its pivot-to-Asia strategy featuring military deployment in the Asia-Pacific region surrounding China. Thus, China-US relations have many challenges remaining in the future.