China’s foreign policy: from passive engagement to proactive pragmatism?

The rhetoric Wang Yi used during his press conference suggests an evolution in China’s approach to foreign affairs
As countries navigate an increasingly tense world, the challenge for Beijing lies in showing it can offer advantages equal to those provided by the US

Li ChengandMallie Prytherch

Published: 5:30am, 13 Mar 2024

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Wang Yi, one of China’s most seasoned diplomats, took the stage at China’s “two sessions” last Thursday to explain the strategic framework of the country’s foreign policy, underscoring a year of perceived diplomatic triumphs and charting the course for a more assertive global stance in 2024.

Wang navigated an array of international concerns, from the war in the Middle East to Sino-US relations and infrastructure projects. His narrative was not just a defence of past actions but a declaration of China’s intent to shape the future of global diplomacy, embodying China’s increasing shift from passive engagement to more proactive pragmatism.

The opening question, from state-owned television broadcaster CCTV, gave Wang the chance to list “China’s most impressive diplomatic achievements” from 2023. Instead, he spent almost half of his answer articulating China’s diplomatic strategy for 2024.

He emphasised China’s plan to “be more confident and self-reliant in cultivating the features of China’s diplomacy”, which include “acting with a strong sense of historical responsibility and a vibrant spirit of innovation”; being “open and inclusive”; consolidating and expanding global partnerships; showing great moral responsibility; and being “more unequivocal”.

This articulation suggests an evolution in China’s foreign policy approach, reflecting a proactive stance similar to traditional US engagement but also raising questions about what major power diplomacy should look like in a multipolar world.

China’s tendency towards pragmatism in diplomacy has occurred in parallel with shifts in US foreign policy. China’s diplomacy is based on economic cooperation and development initiatives with various parts of the world, including most countries in the Global South.

China aims to build strategic dependencies through economic investments, positioning itself as an indispensable partner. China’s involvement in conflicts – which has at times been a source of frustration for the United States – is relatively reluctant. Yet, as it ascends to major power status, China finds itself increasingly drawn into global issues that it previously sidestepped, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or conflicts in the Middle East. Despite this shift, China’s engagement remains distinctly pragmatic.

This attitude was visible in Wang’s answers to the questions he fielded. His first pick after CCTV was a representative from Rossiya Segodnya, a Russian state-owned media company, which asked about China-Russia relations. In response, Wang was unambiguous, saying that “maintaining and growing the China-Russia relationship is a strategic choice by the two sides based on the fundamental interests of the two peoples”. His reply reflects China’s increased readiness to publicly support its strategic choices.

Wang also went on the offensive with regard to the US, saying that “US promises are not truly fulfilled … if the US says one thing and does the other, where is its credibility as a major country? If it gets jittery whenever it hears the word China, where is its confidence as a major country?”

Wang’s pointed critique of the US suggested that such discrepancies weaken the US’ global standing and challenge its ability to effectively engage with and influence international partners and adversaries. While China has often attacked perceived gaps in US foreign policy and values, positioning itself as a more reliable and stable global actor in contrast, these critiques are usually more oblique when coming from top leaders.

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Later in the press conference, Wang advocated for Palestine’s full UN membership and endorsed a road map for a two-state solution. His comments highlight China’s departure from previous attempts to portray itself as a neutral mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, instead expressing explicit support for the Palestinian cause. This reflects a willingness to actively take stances on global disputes rather than solely maintaining a neutral or mediating presence.

Altogether, Wang’s statements portray a China that is increasingly confident in its diplomacy and foreign policy. It sees 2023 as a year in which the US was mired in two unwinnable wars while China helped broker peace between Iran and Saudi Arabia. China believes its diplomatic strategy is working and will move forward with success in mind.

If Wang’s proactive rhetoric is truly indicative of China’s diplomatic strategy for 2024, it is a sharp departure from the more passive role that China held previously. China has benefited from what are arguably diplomatic missteps by the US during the past year.

Several of the events that China counted as victories were less the result of active measures and more about the benefits reaped from a passive stance. China found itself in more advantageous positions not necessarily through deliberate action but by virtue of simply observing and waiting for the outcomes of US efforts in the international arena.

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Equally significant, China’s diplomatic strategy offers a contrast to US diplomacy, which is increasingly framed within a democracy versus authoritarianism narrative. This divergence is especially pronounced against the backdrop of US internal dynamics, such as vicious domestic politics and the re-emergence of figures such as former US president Donald Trump.

China’s focus on practical outcomes and strategic partnerships highlights a path of engagement that favours multilateralism and prioritises stability and economic growth over political alignment. However, the appeal of partnering with China for third-party countries must be weighed against the backdrop of strong US alliances and China’s tendency for non-committal support.

As countries navigate increasingly treacherous landscapes, the challenge for China lies in demonstrating that its approach can offer advantages equal to those provided by the US. The question that remains is whether China’s vision of proactive pragmatism actually develops, as Wang suggested it has, “from a promising vision to practical outcomes”.

Li Cheng is director of the Centre on Contemporary China and the World and a professor of political science at the University of Hong Kong

Mallie Prytherch is a researcher at the Centre on Contemporary China and the World at the University of Hong Kong

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