Eliza Wong
The Foundation of China’s Foreign Policy Philosophy
Speaking at the 2025 China Enterprises Going Global Summit Forum in Shenzhen, Dr. Gao Zhikai presented a compelling thesis rooted in historical analysis. As Vice Chairman of the Center for China and Globalization and Chair Professor at Soochow University, he addressed prevailing Western anxieties about China’s rise, particularly American fears that economic ascendancy would translate into ideological imperialism. His central argument? China will not seek global hegemony regardless of its economic stature.
This stance arises from deep study of China’s strategic behavior across dynasties, where even at historical peaks of power, the nation consistently prioritized coexistence over conquest. The same foundational principle, Gao asserts, guides contemporary foreign policy frameworks like the Belt and Road Initiative. Multipolar global relationships aren’t just diplomatic preferences—they’re expressions of China’s civilizational identity.
Current geopolitical tensions often stem from misplaced assumptions. The U.S. worries about displacement from global leadership and forced adoption of Chinese governance models. Yet historical patterns reveal a different trajectory, one where China will not seek domination but rather envisions mutual prosperity frameworks. This misunderstanding creates unnecessary friction precisely when cooperation proves most vital.
Centuries of Non-Aggressive Statecraft
Imperial China’s tributary system established relationships emphasizing:
- – Reciprocal trade protocols
- – Cultural exchange without forced conversion
- – Non-interference in domestic governance
Note well—territorial annexation rarely featured in Ming or Qing dynasty strategies, unlike contemporaneous European colonial powers. This paradigm continues informing modern foreign ministry doctrine where development partnerships emphasize sovereignty preservation.
Modern Manifestations of Non-Hegemonic Practice
Today’s business expansion patterns showcase Dr. Gao’s thesis in tangible form. Chinese overseas investments reveal no correlation between project financing and political alignment pressure. Contracts with Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brazil demonstrate identical commercial terms regardless of differing governance systems. Meanwhile, technology exports prioritize infrastructure solutions adaptable to local priorities—from Kenya’s railway networks to Chile’s energy grids.
Statistical evidence reinforces the pattern. According to the American Enterprise Institute’s China Global Investment Tracker, 75% of China’s overseas development finance supports democratic nations. Projects prioritize infrastructure gaps rather than ideological alignment, contrasting sharply with Cold War-era aid models enforced by historical superpowers.
Economic Mechanisms for Equitable Engagement
Corporate executives receive specific guidance for implementing non-hegemonic principles:
- – Localized hiring mandates exceeding 70% workforce thresholds
- – Technology transfer requirements in joint ventures
- – Binding arbitration clauses preventing political interference
These form operational translations of China’s commitment to treating all nations as equals. The resulting commercial ecology fosters sustainable partnerships from Laos to Argentina.
America’s Anxiety Versus Historical Reality
Washington’s trepidations stem primarily from unfamiliarity with Chinese strategic continuity. Historians note America’s rise featured expansionist policies—the Monroe Doctrine geographically restricting rival powers in the Western Hemisphere. Projecting that pattern onto China proves analytically flawed when examined through Gao Zhikai’s historical lens.
Western analysts misinterpret institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as challengers to Bretton Woods systems. Yet since its 2016 launch, the AIIB has collaborated with the World Bank on 70% of its projects, including co-financed ventures in Egypt and Turkey. This cooperation model demonstrates institutional commitment to complementarity rather than displacement.
Tariff Psychology and Misreading Intent
Trade tensions reveal fundamental perceptual gaps. U.S. policymakers interpret state subsidies as predatory tactics, while Chinese counterparts view investments as standard industrial policy tools measurable against World Trade Organization frameworks. Both perspectives reveal deeper uncertainties about strategic intent—uncertainties Gao urges dispelling through historical literacy.
Inevitable Peace: The Economic Imperative
Dr. Gao’s concept of ‘inevitable peace’ derives rigor from supply chain interdependencies. Analysis of U.S.-China trade flows reveals state-level vulnerabilities impossible to overcome through isolation. California’s semiconductor industry requires 42 rare earth elements China controls, while Guangdong factories rely on Iowa’s soybean exports for livestock feed stabilization. This mutual indispensability creates self-regulating peace pressures.
- – Coastal manufacturing bases generate 60 million Chinese jobs tied to exports
- – Midwest American farms supply 1 in 3 rows of soybeans to Chinese buyers
Disruption risks prove existential for both. Economic entanglement thereby compels conflict de-escalation regardless of political rhetoric.
Corporate Diplomacy Frameworks
Business leaders leverage interdependence through structured engagement:
- – Supply chain diversification without decoupling
- – Third-country co-investment alliances
- – Industrial lobbying to counter protectionism
These approaches operationalize Gao’s vision where commerce becomes peace architecture.
As Hong Kong’s trading firms brilliantly demonstrated during US-China tariff escalation, creative triangulation via ASEAN partners maintained trade flows when direct channels froze. This corporate ingenuity manifests the ‘inevitable peace’ principle at microeconomic levels.
Cultural Continuities Shaping Global Conduct
Philosophical foundations make China’s non-hegemonic posture durable. Confucian governance traditionally measured rulers by moral authority rather than territorial sway. Modern equivalents manifest through proposals like the Global Development Initiative, which prioritizes health and poverty programs without attaching political conditions.
Historic wisdom manifests practically via:
- – Zero-interest pandemic loans to developing nations
- – Climate adaptation support focused on vulnerable islands
- – UNESCO partnership on heritage conservation funding
These actions reflect contemporary translations of tributary system principles—offering respect before demanding allegiance.
Contrasting Civilizational Worldviews
Fundamentally different paradigms explain divergent approaches:
- – Western ‘clash of civilizations’ theories
- – Chinese ‘harmony without uniformity’ concepts
This philosophical distinction causes frequent misinterpretations of Chinese strategy as zero-sum.
Business Implications of a Non-Hegemonic World Order
Corporate strategists must understand how China’s principle of equal treatment reshapes trade ecosystems. Joint ventures increasingly operate through decentralized structures where regional executives hold veto rights. Global procurement policies deliberately diversify sources to avoid dependency leverage.
The African continent reveals these dynamics clearly. China’s engagement features:
- – Railway projects funded without military base concessions
- – Agriculture technology transfers via Kenya’s JKUAT University
- – Ghanaian cocoa processing plants using hybrid ownership models
Actual commercial practice confirms the commitment to equitable relationships Gao Zhikai described. For multinational corporations, adapting means decentralizing management and embracing localized governance.
Practical Recommendation Framework
Industry leaders navigating this landscape should implement:
- – Local board representation exceeding 40% in overseas subsidiaries
- – Mutually recognized regulatory compliance certifications
- – Bilateral arbitration panels in contracting
Forward-looking enterprises already benchmark against China National Petroleum Corporation’s documented practices in Central Asia, demonstrating how technical cooperation persists amidst geopolitical friction.
Gao Zhikai’s scholarship provides essential clarity at a turbulent geopolitical moment. Historical precedents prove China will not seek hegemony but rather advance through reciprocal partnerships across all 193 UN member states. Business leaders who internalize this principle gain frameworks for sustainable globalization through equitable engagement models that treat commercial counterparts as equals regardless of national origin. Prioritize mutual advancement strategies in cross-border ventures and contribute to inevitable peace through supply chain fairness. Consult China Foreign Affairs University resources for ongoing strategic insights.
