From Tao Guang Yang Hui to Xin Xing

This article traces Chinas foreign policy transformation from 2013 to the present. It also examines Deng Xiaopings doctrinal response to the political crises of 198991 and compares it to current Chinese foreign policy doctrines. From the early 1980s until the 2010s, Chinas foreign policy has generally focused on keeping a low profile. Dengs Tao Guang Yang Hui foreign policy doctrine is characterized by its Nos, while Xi Jinpings Xin Xing is marked by its News. The move from Tao Guang Yang Hui to Xin Xing is a major doctrinal shift in Chinas foreign policy. Since the 19th Party Congress in 2017, Xis new narratives have seemingly dominated Chinese foreign policy. However, old principles, particularly that of non-interference or no hegemony, are still alive, albeit in a different form. This transformation is driven by three forces, which this paper describes in the 3As framework: Chinas Ambition to be a great country and a non-hegemon in a changing world; its provision of Alternatives to fill the gaps in regional and global governance structures; and its Adaptation to what it deems as unprecedented major changes in a century (Da Bian Ju). As China undergoes this foreign policy transformation, contradictions and dilemmas inevitably emerge. While Chinas foreign policy transformation is currently being disrupted by the coronavirus crisis, there have been adjustments which were already apparent before the crisis. The ambitious One Belt and One Road strategy, for instance, was replaced by the Belt and Road Initiative; constructive intervention was replaced by constructive role; and common destiny was replaced by shared future. Looking ahead, Chinas foreign policy transformation could include more strategic or, at least, tactical adjustments.