The new Chinese leadership took office in a changing domestic and international environment. Internally, economic growth slows down while social development accelerates in a stable political situation. Domestic social forces pay more attention to the central government’s foreign policy directions. Externally, China plays a greater role in promoting world economic growth, international system transformation, and institutional reforms, while facing new challenges in international economic and trade institutions, regional economic and security cooperation frameworks as well as escalating tensions with neighboring countries regarding territorial and maritime rights and interests.

First, a comprehensive and long-term strategic outlook. China has defined the directions and tasks in its foreign policy for the next decade based on the judgment of internal and international developments and global strategic posture. While upholding national interests, China continues to stabilize and expand friendly relations with neighboring countries, increase strategic mutual trust with related countries, elevate its external relations in its periphery, strengthen friendly cooperation with developing countries by carrying forward friendship, enhancing mutual trust, advancing cooperation, and seeking common development. China advocates that mankind is a community of shared destinies, safeguards world peace and security, promotes human development and progress, and deepens cooperation with relevant international organizations on global issues and challenges.

Second, strategic self-identification as a global power. A good start in its diplomacy reflects China’s rising comprehensive national strength as well as its diplomatic self-awareness and confidence. In the past, China’s diplomatic efforts regarding major countries focused on bilateral and multilateral relations with big powers. Nowadays, China designs its foreign policy in the capacity of and from the perspective of a global power. Holding high the banner of international peace and morality and advocating inclusiveness, mutual learning, and win-win cooperation, China conducts multidimensional diplomacy and inputs more positive energy in the international community. China has shown to the world its manner, methodology, and magnanimity.

Third, holistic and balanced strategic planning. In country-specific diplomacy, the new Chinese leadership underscores the importance of creating a peaceful environment for development in China’s neighborhood and prioritizes the task of establishing a new model of relationship with established powers, traditional powers and regional powers(middle powers). At the same time, China focuses more on thematic diplomacy. The current international institution-building efforts are inadequate to meet the challenges of climate change, energy security, epidemic prevention and disease control, water scarcity and other global issues. The Chinese leadership therefore values global governance by promoting G20’s role as the major platform for world economic governance, attaching great importance to the UN Post2015 Development Agenda, strengthening international institution-building for climate change, increasing international people-to-people and cultural exchanges, building order in new public commons such as outer space, cyberspace, and polar regions.
Fourth, sequencing strategic priorities. The new leadership takes a holistic approach to sequence priorities among the multiple and complex tasks in China’s diplomatic work. At the bilateral level, China focuses on strengthening relations with major countries like Russian and the U.S. and with neighboring countries. At the regional level, China focuses on improving its neighboring environment by enhancing cooperation frameworks and easing tensions over rights and interests. At the global level, China continues to promote the reform of the international system, improve global economic governance, and effectively respond to non-traditional security challenges.

Fifth, emphasizing strategic composure and bottom-line thinking. “strategic composure” and “bottom-line thinking” have become catchphrases regarding China’s diplomatic strategy among China watchers at home and abroad since the new leadership took office. Against the backdrop of increased peripheral challenges since 2010, the new leadership has kept strategic composure by defining long-term strategic objectives and overcoming short-sighted impulses on the one hand, and viewed progress and setbacks in a detached manner on the other hand. The essence of “bottom-line thinking” is risk thinking, i.e. to think more of potential problems and challenges. This is the material and mental preparations necessary to meet future challenges in China’s diplomatic work. The “bottom-line thinking” also implies the bottom line for compromise and the red-line that cannot be crossed in China’s diplomacy. General Secretary Xi Jinping remarked on the third study session of the CCP Politbureau that “No foreign country should expect China to compromise its core interests to cut a deal with them, and expect us to swallow the bitter fruit of undermined sovereignty, security, and development interests.” The combination of “composure” and “bottom line” not only defines China’s strategic objectives, but also outlines the ceiling and floor in China’s foreign policy, reflecting the clarity and transparency in China’s diplomatic strategy.        

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