China’s Global Strategy Under Xi Jinping: A Conversation with Steve Tsang

Under Xi Jinping’s leadership, Chinese foreign policy has become significantly more assertive. More than a decade ago, Xi moved away from Deng Xiaoping's approach of "hiding capabilities and biding time" and embraced what he calls “great power diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.” Since then, China has adopted a more assertive presence on the world stage, placed greater emphasis on relations with the Global South, taken a tougher approach toward Taiwan, and reorganized its foreign policy apparatus around Xi’s personal leadership and priorities.

Understanding this transformation – and more fundamentally, understanding what Beijing wants – has become a central question for China-watchers and policy makers. What are China’s ambitions as it emerges as a global superpower?

A new book offers an answer that differs in important ways from many previous analyses. The book is titled “China's Global Strategy Under Xi Jinping.”  Its co-authors are Steve Tsang, Professor of China Studies and Director of the China Institute of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and Olivia Cheung, a Lecturer in Politics at King’s College London. On this episode, we have Steve Tsang with us today to discuss the book, his assessment of China’s global ambitions under Xi Jinping, and what those ambitions mean for policymakers.  

Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction
[01:52] A Sinocentric Party-State Realist Analytical Framework
[07:14] Tianxia in Chinese Foreign Policy
[09:45] Xi Jinping’s Growing Ambitions
[13:42] The Role of the Global South
[16:59] What Accepting Chinese Preeminence Looks Like
[19:57] Taiwan and the China Dream
[25:48] China First Policy as a Hindrance?
[28:25] Using the Built-In Stop Button