Xi Jinping and the transformation of Chinese foreign policy

Sergio Trigo Saugar’s article analyses the evolution of Chinese foreign policy under Xi Jinping’s leadership, highlighting how he has driven substantial change since 2012. The text emphasises the abandonment of the traditional low-profile diplomacy in favour of a more assertive stance, aimed at reforming the international order and firmly defending the strategic interests of the People’s Republic. Within this framework, historical principles such as non-interference and respect for sovereignty are reinterpreted and applied selectively, reinforcing the role of the Communist Party and projecting an alternative narrative to Western liberalism.

The author details how China’s strategy combines structural competition with the United States, selective cooperation with the European Union and a deepening of alliances with Russia, while extending its influence in Latin America, Africa and Central Asia. Instruments such as the Belt and Road Initiative, active participation in multilateral organisations (UN, WTO, BRICS, SCO) and the use of public diplomacy and soft power are employed to reinforce its global leadership. However, this projection faces regional tensions in the South China Sea, over Taiwan and with India, as well as international criticism regarding opacity, indebtedness and diplomatic coercion.

In short, the article offers a comprehensive overview of how China’s foreign policy has shifted from prudence to global ambition, combining the defence of its historical principles with an increasingly broad economic, diplomatic and cultural projection. Through rigorous analysis, the author shows how these dynamics not only redefine Beijing’s position in the world, but also call into question the foundations of the current international order. This is essential reading for understanding the keys to 21st-century global politics and the central role that China seeks to play in shaping it.