Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, head-of-state diplomacy has been an important strategy in China’s diplomacy. President Xi Jinping has not only enhanced China’s international status and influence through frequent and in-depth face-to-face meetings with other heads of state in China and abroad, but has also clearly and authoritatively stated China’s position on major issues and boosted mutual trust and respect between China and other countries. Much mutual suspicion and disputes have been dispelled through head-of-state diplomacy, and the overall result has been the creation of a more favorable international environment for China’s peaceful development.
Over the past decade or so, the United States and its allies have done everything they can to contain China’s rise, making relations between China and the US and the West increasingly fraught and unmanageable. The US and the West continue to play up the “China-threat theory” and sow discord between China and its neighbors, especially Southeast Asian countries, to squeeze China’s space for international activities. The Taiwan question is a particularly powerful and pernicious means used by the US to contain and isolate China.
The US and the West continue to play up the “China-threat theory” and sow discord between China and its neighbors, especially Southeast Asian countries, to squeeze China’s space for international activities. The Taiwan question is a particularly powerful and pernicious means used by the US to contain and isolate China.
In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic and the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine have exacerbated frictions among China, the US and the West. The diplomatic, trade, financial, technological and ideological wars launched by the US against China have continued to escalate. The US, Britain, Japan and Australia are exerting increasing military and geopolitical pressure on China. What’s more serious are the repeated and dangerous US provocations concerning the Taiwan question. In particular, the US increasingly regards Taiwan as an “independent political entity”, actively encourages and supports “Taiwan independence” forces, treats Taiwan as an “informal” ally of the US and uses Taiwan to threaten China’s security. However, the war between Russia and Ukraine has brought a heavy blow to the economy, people’s livelihood and public finances of the US and the West, which are increasingly encountering the grave problems of inflation, an energy crunch and an economic downturn. Although some people in the US hope that Russia’s national power will decline because of the Russia-Ukraine military conflict and the Western sanctions, the political and economic strength and resilience that Russia has so far displayed are nevertheless beyond the expectations of the US and the West. The protracted Russia-Ukraine military conflict is likely to continue and no end game is in sight, dragging the US and the West down along the way. This frightening prospect has caused some insightful people in the US and the West to worry that the US and the West will eventually have to pay an increasingly hefty price, including further deterioration in the economic situation and the Western camp descending toward division and internal strife. Recently, voices demanding that Russia and Ukraine end the military conflict through negotiations are emerging. On the other side of the world, China, in response to US provocations on the Taiwan question, has taken a series of tough actions to respond to and counter these provocations, the most notable of which is indubitably the People’s Liberation Army’s live-fire drills around Taiwan and its deterrent impact on Taiwan, the US and the West. Some people in the US now begin to feel that Taiwan is a more strategic liability to the US and have called for US restraint on the Taiwan question. Except for Britain, Australia and Japan, other countries have expressed in various ways that they’re averse to taking sides between the US and China. Instead, they’ve adopted a “hedging” strategy to minimize damage or capitalize on the US-China tussle. The trade and technology conflicts instigated by the US against China can bring enormous harm to both parties, and have aroused some opposition voices in the US and among its allies. If the US and the West finally decide to seek a negotiated end to the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine to cut their losses, they need to seek China’s approval and help.
The current international political situation is quite severe for China, but there’re still opportunities for China to expand its maneuvers internationally. Past historical experience has shown that head-of-state diplomacy is of great value to China in overcoming challenges and capitalizing on the opportunities available. In recent years, with COVID-19 raging around the world, it has been difficult for heads of state to have face-to-face talks, and impossible for them to enhance mutual trust and affection through such diplomacy. However, as the pandemic has stabilized, the G20 summit and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Informal Meeting have been held back-to-back in November this year, allowing China to resume head-of-state diplomacy. During these two high-profile events, the heads of state of many important countries had gathered to express their opinions and conduct bilateral meetings on major world and global issues. President Xi’s personal and high-profile attendance at these two important events has drawn the international community and media’s attention to China. During these two events, the Chinese president was highly welcomed and respected by the heads of state of other countries. Through his words and deeds, Xi has significantly expanded China’s international space and improved its international environment in a turbulent world.
First, Xi’s important speeches and talks at the G20 summit and the APEC meetings have cogently elaborated on China’s “Global Development Initiative” and “Global Security Initiative”. They underscore China’s willingness to cooperate with other countries in promoting a more inclusive global development so that everyone can live a good life. Xi has also proposed propelling a more resilient global development, deepening international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, promoting world trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, ensuring global food and energy security, accelerating Asia-Pacific regional economic integration, and driving the formation of an Asia-Pacific community of common destiny. Xi states that China is a champion and defender of globalization and multilateralism and opposes all forms of protectionism, unilateralism and the abuse of “national security” as a pretext to impose trade and technology sanctions on other countries. China pledges to continue “reforms and opening-up” and create more opportunities for the world. Xi’s speech effectively refutes the false allegations against “Chinese-style modernization” by politicians, scholars and media in the US and the West, especially allegations that China is “anti-market”, “anti-foreign investment” and “closed to the outside world”.
Second, within such a short time, Xi has met with the heads of state of many countries, including the leaders of the US, France, Spain, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, South Africa, Argentina, Chile, Senegal, Australia and Papua New Guinea. They are among the top leaders of both the developed and developing countries. These top-level meetings have increased their knowledge and understanding of China, clarified any misunderstanding of China’s development and strategic intentions, improved their countries’ relations with China, and brought deeper cooperation with each other in multiple areas. Head-of-state diplomacy has won more friends and partners for China in the world and weakened the effectiveness of US efforts to isolate and contain China.
The summit between Xi and US President Joe Biden has had the salutary effect of easing tensions between the two powers. But, to be sure, the US’ long-term strategy to contain China’s rise will not change substantially, and will intensify in the future. Nonetheless, at least in the short term, the US apparently feels that intensifying conflicts with China will be detrimental to its interests and those of the West, and it does not want to be embroiled in a devastating war with China over Taiwan. Understandably, the US hopes to improve relations with China and resume cooperation in practical issues. During his talks with Biden in Bali, Indonesia, Xi solemnly pointed out that “the Taiwan question is the core of China’s core interests, the political foundation of China-US relations, and the first red line in China-US relations that should never be allowed to be breached. Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese people themselves and is China’s internal affair. It’s the common aspiration of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation to safeguard the unity and territorial integrity of the motherland. Anyone who intends to separate Taiwan from China is against China’s national justice, and the Chinese people will never agree! ”According to Xinhua News Agency, in response to Xi’s admonition, Biden pledged to respect China’s system and not to seek to change it, agreed not to seek a “new cold war”, promised not to oppose China with its allies, vowed not to support “Taiwan independence”, rejected the “two-Chinas” and “one-China, one-Taiwan” configuration, and said the US has no intention to have conflicts with China. Biden also said the US does not intend to “decouple” China, obstruct China’s economic development, or contain China”. However, the US president’s “commitments” to Xi were not included in the White House’ version of the talks between the two heads of state. Nor have they been widely reported in the Western media. Given the implacable animus toward China by the US government and the Republican and Democratic parties, it’s doubtful whether Biden’s “promises” to China will be fulfilled. In any case, since he has made these “promises” to Xi, it shows that, at least, the Biden administration is prepared to be less provocative on the Taiwan question in the short term to avoid any serious confrontation between the US and China that might be detrimental to US interests, so that the US government can concentrate on solving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the chaos in Europe and all the serious problems the US faces. From the best point of view, the meeting between Xi and Biden is of positive significance in preventing further deterioration in China-US relations, as well as the situation in the Taiwan Straits, and will allow China and the US to resume discussions on climate change, macroeconomic policies, the economy, trade and public health. It will also enhance communication and cooperation between the two countries in practical issues, such as agriculture and food security.
All in all, against the backdrop of a complicated, severe, and ever changing international environment, Xi’s achievements in broadening China’s international space through head-of-state diplomacy must be rated as quite remarkable and commendable indeed.
The author is a professor emeritus of sociology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.