China’s emergence as a global power is reshaping the international landscape in ways that many Western analysts struggle to fully grasp. A recent book by University of London academics Steve Tsang and Olivia Cheung, titled *China’s Global Strategy Under Xi Jinping*, seeks to clarify Beijing’s approach to foreign policy under President Xi Jinping by examining the ideological and strategic foundations driving China’s global ambitions.
The authors argue that Western observers often misinterpret China’s ascent by assuming Beijing’s foreign policy would mirror the United States’ assertive, interventionist stance once its power rivaled Washington’s. Instead, Tsang and Cheung portray China’s foreign policy as fundamentally different, rooted in President Xi’s vision of a “China Dream” aimed at national rejuvenation by 2049, the centenary of the People’s Republic of China.
Central to this vision is the revival of a “tianxia order,” a concept borrowed from traditional Chinese political philosophy meaning “all under heaven,” which positions China as the core of a new international system. Unlike the U.S., which pursued global hegemony by providing public goods and enforcing liberal norms, China reportedly seeks to be the pre-eminent nation by fostering interdependence while respecting national sovereignty. This approach denies a hegemonic global policeman role and instead promotes a more “democratic” order where China is one among several major powers, rather than the sole arbiter.
Tsang and Cheung highlight that Beijing prefers cultivating “partnerships” with 142 countries rather than formal alliances, emphasizing cooperation without binding commitments. China’s strategy also involves repurposing existing international institutions such as the United Nations to emphasize “civilisational diversity” and resist liberal principles championed by the West. The authors suggest this reflects a focus on protecting national sovereignty and promoting self-determination rather than exporting China’s political model abroad.
They outline a two-step plan by Xi’s administration to reshape the global order. The first step involves mobilizing the global south, which comprises the majority of countries and population, through initiatives like the Global Development Initiative, seeking to integrate these countries into China’s economic growth through infrastructure investments. Complementary efforts include the Global Security Initiative, aimed at mediating conflicts as in the recent Iran-Saudi Arabia talks, and the Global Civilization Initiative, promoting a more pluralistic world order that does not depend on Western development models. The second significant objective is to reincorporate Taiwan by 2050, ideally through peaceful means, while challenging U.S. security commitments and alliances in the region.
While the book is praised for providing an insightful and methodical analysis of Xi’s foreign policy concepts, some critics note it relies heavily on Chinese Communist Party terminology and offers limited investigation into the deeper intellectual origins of these ideas. Additionally, there is skepticism about how ideological principles operate in practice, with some viewing Xi’s ideology more as a tool for social control and regime survival rather than a fixed guide to policy, evidenced by pragmatic reversals such as the abrupt end to China’s zero-Covid approach.
Overall, *China’s Global Strategy Under Xi Jinping* contributes to understanding the subtle and multifaceted nature of China’s global ambitions amid the ongoing transformation of the international order. However, it also underscores the complexities and uncertainties in predicting how China's rise will fully reshape global politics.