China’s seasoned Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s press conference on the sidelines of the “two sessions” in Beijing on March 8 proved his deep wit and predilection for metaphors and aphorisms once again. His annual press conference at the Great Hall of the People during the concurrent sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) has, for over a decade, become a “must-study” for me –and certainly for many others keen to understand China’s foreign policy.
The press conference, attended by dozens of domestic and foreign journalists, lasted 80 minutes. The transcript of the English translation comprises nearly 8,000 words. For instance, when asked by a reporter about the ongoing US-Israel conflict concerning Iran, Wang insisted that “might does not make right.”
When concluding his meeting with the press, he quoted the future US President Abraham Lincoln’s February 1860 address that “right makes might,” and also cited an ancient Chinese adage saying that “when benevolence and justice are not practised, the position of strength shifts.”
The phrase “right makes might” has been attributed to Chinese essayist Jia Yi (c. 200-169 BCE) in his “Disquisition on Finding Fault with Qin,” which, as its title suggests, critiques the Qin Dynasty and details his views on the reasons for its collapse.
On the contrary, the concept that “might makes right” has roots in ancient European texts, including works by Greek historian and general Thucydides (c. 460-460 BCE) and Italian philosopher and diplomat Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527), who discussed the predicament of power and morality. For example, Thucydides in his work “The History of the Peloponnesian War” explores the idea that stronger states use their power to impose their will on weaker ones.
Prior to the Q&A session, Wang reaffirmed a host of core principles of China’s foreign policy, such as its “firm opposition to all unilateral acts, power politics, and bullying,” stressing that “as the world’s most important force for peace, stability, and justice, we have full confidence in the future of humanity.”
Of course, he also reiterated China’s commitment to “building a community with a shared future for humanity,” a vision launched by President Xi Jinping in 2013, and stressed that “head-of-state diplomacy is the anchor of China’s diplomacy.”
Wang stated that “China’s diplomacy provides the much-needed stability and certainty to a world in turmoil and serves as an irreplaceable mainstay amid global turbulence.”
He also reminded everyone that China is slated to host major diplomatic events such as the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and the second China-Arab States Summit this year. Both are of utmost importance given the turbulent situation large parts of the world are in right now.
When asked about Beijing-Moscow ties, Wang underlined that China and Russia are strategically independent and that both adhere to the principle of non-alliance, based on the broad strategic consensus and close strategic coordination they share.
Regarding the APEC meeting in Shenzhen on November 18-19, Wang emphasised that China’s central objective throughout the whole year is “to translate the goal of building an Asia-Pacific community into action and turn its blueprint into reality,” with the meeting’s theme being “Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together,” based on the three priorities of openness, innovation, and cooperation.
Wang also mentioned that China “will construct the main pillars of an Asia-Pacific community, align different pathways towards the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific… and vigorously promote the transformation towards digital, smart, and green development.” He underlined that the APEC meeting will be held in Shenzhen, “a frontier of innovation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” (GBA).
Concerning the Iran war, Wang called for a ceasefire and an end to hostilities. Unsurprisingly, he added that “ancient Chinese wisdom warns that weapons are ominous tools, and should not be used without discretion.”
“This is a war that should not have happened – it is a war that does no one any good.” He also said that “as a sincere friend and strategic partner, China stands ready to work with Middle Eastern countries to implement the Global Security Initiative (GSI)….”
China’s four global initiatives
The 2022 GSI is the second of four global initiatives that China, under the guidance of President Xi, launched between 2021 and last year. The others are the Global Development Initiative (GDI, 2021), the Global Civilisation Initiative (GCI, 2023), and last year’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI). I am not aware of any other country or group of countries that has been able, or willing, to get similar global initiatives – now forming an impressive quartet – off the ground. This shows that China has grown into a proactive shaper of the international community.
On the subject of the GGI, Wang highlighted that China has initiated the Group of Friends of Global Governance at the UN, in New York and Geneva. The group promotes the five major GGI principles, namely, sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centred approach, and real actions, Wang stated, who acknowledged that while “the UN is not perfect, without the UN, the world would only be worse.”
I think so too. The UN, of which China is a founding member, is the outcome of two world wars, and let’s hope that even in all its imperfection, it is able to avoid WWIII.
Right now, many trigger-happy political figures and movements are on the loose.
Wang also said that as the world’s largest developing country, “China is more conscious of the ardent expectations of the Global South countries, which include the 10-member Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the also 10-member BRICS.” These two entities’ members can be expected particularly to hope for a speedy end to the Iran war.
Some 85 percent of the world’s population lives in the Global South’s approximately 135 countries (the UN has 193 members). The term ‘Global South’ is not strictly geographical but denotes countries “outside the West.” China and India, for instance, are geographically in the northern hemisphere but geopolitically are deeply embedded in the Global South, widely regarded as developing, emerging, less economically advanced, or having lower incomes.
“The collective rise of the Global South is the distinct hallmark of the great transformation unfolding in the world,” Wang stated, pointing out that over the past four decades, its share of the global economy has grown from 24 percent to over 40 percent.
China rejects ‘G2’
When asked about the ultra-important China-US relationship, Wang characterised it as “one of far-reaching and global implications,” insisting that neither side “can remodel the other” and that both should “strive for the prospect of win-win cooperation.” He described peaceful coexistence as the relationship’s “bottom line.”
“This year is a ‘big year’ for China-US relations,” Wang said, urging both to “lengthen the list of cooperation and shorten the list of problems.” He said that 2026 should become “a landmark year for sound, steady, and sustainable development of China-US relations.”
I hope that US President Donald Trump’s possible visit to China soon will help turn 2026 into a landmark year for solid, stable, and enduring relations. However, our American friends should always be fully aware of what President Xi said on December 26, 2013 when addressing a symposium commemorating the 120th anniversary of Mao Zedong’s birth: “No country should assume that we will trade away our core interests, nor will we accept anything that harms our sovereignty, security, and development interests.”
I assume that any state leader aware of their duties to their nation and its people will agree with Xi’s remarks.
Wang categorically rejected the idea of China accepting a bipolar “G2” format as a framework for addressing global challenges with the US. While admitting that “no doubt, China and the US have a significant impact on the world,” he cautioned that “we should not forget there are more than 190 countries on our planet.”
“Diversity is the inherent nature of human society, and multipolarity is what the international landscape should look like,” Wang said, adding that “building an equal and orderly multipolar world should be the common responsibility of all countries.”
He cited the cooperation arrangements between China and nearly three dozen Latin American and Caribbean countries, as well as the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) 70-year-long friendship with Africa, from Zhou Enlai to President Xi’s visits to the continent of 1.5 billion residents. Wang mentioned that fresh steps are being taken towards building the China-Africa community with a shared future, alongside the full implementation of zero-tariff access for 100 percent of African imports starting from 1 May this year.
With respect to China’s goal of building a community with a shared future with neighbouring countries, Wang acknowledged, realistically, that “there are often political changes within countries in the region, and complex, sensitive issues left from history still exist between countries.”
He also criticised those adopting a “beggar-thy-neighbour approach,” i.e., the situation in which a country seeks to improve its economic situation at the expense of other countries.
I am convinced that, just as in domestic politics, the best way to tackle problems in international relations is to engage in dialogue - talking things over, as simple as that.
‘Europe is China’s key modernisation partner’
When asked about China-EU ties, Wang underlined that two-way trade topped US$1 trillion last year, when two million European tourists travelled to China under visa-free policies. He stated that “Europe should naturally be a pole in a multipolar world… and Europe is a key partner for China in our modernisation.”
However, he cautioned that “it is crucial for Europe to have a correct perception of China.” Well, I am quite sure that, as far as the EU’s “correct perception” of China is concerned, that’s still a developing situation. Most importantly, in my view, the 27-nation bloc needs to consolidate its strategic sovereignty, which, let’s be realistic, seems to still be in an embryonic state.
Wang insisted that “China is not a competitor but a global partner” and that China and Europe are mutually complementary.” He underscored that as far as China-Europe cooperation is concerned, “independence is not a risk, intertwined interests are no threat… but building walls and barriers will only lead to self-isolation.”
From ‘small attic’ to ‘fitness club’
Wang used a metaphorical phrase concerning progress made in China-EU ties: “We are glad to see European friends stepping out of the ‘small attic’ of protectionism and walking into the ‘fitness club’ of the Chinese market to build their strength and competitiveness.”
According to analysts, the “attic” represents protective tariffs and barriers that ultimately lead to self-isolation. The metaphor describes protectionism as a gloomy space that shuts out durable growth and competitiveness.
When asked about the Palestinian question, Wang insisted that “the only one equitable and widely recognised solution is the two-state solution.” He pledged that “China will continue to support Palestine’s just cause of pursuing legitimate national rights.”
On the global economic development front, Wang lamented that the world economy is facing headwinds, and globalisation is suffering a backlash. “A certain country is erecting tariff barriers and pushing economic and technological decoupling,” Wang said, obviously without the need to name the culprit.
“Pursuing protectionism is akin to locking oneself in a dark room; it may keep out the wind and rain, but it also shuts out light and air,” he said.
“China not only talks the talk but also walks the walk,” Wang said, pointing out that “over the past five years, its economy has grown at an average annual rate of 5.4 percent – accounting for around 30 percent of global growth, greater than the contribution of the G7 Western countries combined.”
‘A Country’s Greatness Lies in Serving the Greater Good’
Wang emphasised that “a country’s greatness lies in serving the greater good,” pledging that “China will expand high-standard opening-up not only as the ‘world’s factory’ but also as ‘the world’s market.’”
When asked about China-Japan relations and Japan’s claim that a Taiwan contingency could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, Wang reminded Tokyo that “history is a mirror that reflects the rise and fall of human affairs and that the past, if not forgotten, can serve as a guide for the future.”
Wang alluded to the fact that Taiwan was a Japanese colony for 50 years until the militarists in Tokyo were forced, in the wake of their WWII surrender, to hand the island back to the motherland – China.
Wang was adamant that Taiwan “never was, is not, and never will be a country.” He also reaffirmed that “the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair; it is at the core of China’s core interests – a red line that must not be crossed or trampled on.”
As for the “unstoppable” process towards the “complete reunification of our motherland… those who support it are on the right side of history; those who defy it shall perish,” he stated bluntly.
With regard to the South China Sea, Wang diplomatically remarked that “making waves wins no hearts and fomenting trouble finds no takers.” He also mentioned that “all relevant parties look forward to wrapping up” their consultations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) this year.
It is my sincere hope that the COC will be signed by all relevant parties by the end of the yea
Nearing the end of his press conference, Wang said that “the Chinese have always had the noble tradition of acting for the common good and pursuing harmony for all… and we will continue to take the path of peaceful development.” He stated that “this attests to the saying that ‘right makes might.’”
Wang concluded that “a righteous cause is sure to garner the mighty support of the world’s countries and pool the strength of the people.”
Wang’s informative and instructive remarks serve as a thesaurus for anyone eager to understand China’s foreign policy – and much more, including relevant insights for all of us in Macau. This is particularly significant given that our tiny special administrative region (in terms of area and population, not its historic importance in East-West ties) plays a specific role in China’s external relations, especially with Portuguese-speaking countries, the European Union, Southeast Asia, and, I hope, the Hispanic world before long, as well.
– Harald Brüning
