On Xi Jin Ping – Part 4

Kevin Rudd

Deng said China should,

” Observe calmly; Secure our position; Cope with affairs calmly; Hide our capabilities and bide our time; Be good at maintaining a low profile; and Never claim leadership”.

The above was what Deng Xiaoping outlined in 1992. It is a now-famous, concise foreign policy approach known as the “24-Character Strategy” (二十四字方针).

In this strategy, Deng sets out how China’s foreign relations should respond, firstly, to the imposition of Western economic sanctions after the suppression of rioting students in Tiananmen Square in 1989 and, secondly, to the shocking collapse and dissolution of the USSR in 1991. [see p 71 On Xi Jin Ping]

The strategy emphasized a cautious, low-profile stance and pragmatic actions-

“冷静观察,稳住阵脚,沉着应付,韬光养晦,善于守拙,绝不当头” (Lěngjìng guānchá, wěnzhù zhènjiǎo, chénzhuó yìngfù, tāoguāngyǎnghuì, shànyú shǒuzhuō, jué bù dāngtóu)

Translated, it means:

1. Observe calmly (冷静观察 – Lěngjìng guānchá)

2. Secure our position (稳住阵脚 – Wěnzhù zhènjiǎo)

3. Deal with changes patiently (沉着应付 – Chénzhuó yìngfù)

4. Hide our capabilities and bide our time (韬光养晦 – Tāoguāngyǎnghuì)

5. Be good at maintaining a low profile (善于守拙 – Shànyú shǒuzhuō)

6. Never claim leadership (绝不当头 – Jué bù dāngtóu)

This strategy reflects Deng’s belief in prioritizing internal development and avoiding unnecessary confrontation or global leadership roles while China focused on modernization and strengthening its economy.

It was highly influential in shaping China’s foreign policy throughout the 1990s and beyond.

It was followed by the new General Secretary Jiang Zemin and his replacement Hu Jintao.

Xi Jin Ping in 2013 changed direction.

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