Why Xi Jinping’s Foreign Policy Has Failed

Table of Contents

Interest in foreign policy from beginning

Soon after the 17th national congress of the Chinese Communist Party named Xi Jinping as China’s next leader, the heir apparent set about cultivating a foreign policy
He travelled to dozens of countries.
After becoming party general secretary in 2012 and China’s president in 2013, Xi began centralising his authority, including over foreign policy.
He created the Central Leading Group on Foreign Affairs,
This in 2018 was merged into the more powerful Central Foreign Affairs Commission, also headed by him.
What this meant was that Xi, more than any leader in the post-Deng era, was the architect of China’s foreign policy.

His ambitious Belt and Road Initiative is investing in dozens of countries from Central and Southeast
Asia to Latin America.
Under his watch, China established its first overseas military base in Djibouti.
Militarisation of the South China Sea likewise continued.
Xi’s rhetoric towards Taiwan has been harsher than those used by his predecessors.
And twice in the past three years Chinese and Indian troops have engaged in stand-offs over disputed territory.

If its goal was to push the United States out of Asia, it has failed.
The US is doubling down on its own infrastructure investment initiative in the region, and is continuing to demonstrate its military’s capability of operating in the South China Sea.
Instead of driving away the US from its allies in the region, Beijing’s assertiveness is driving them together.
The Quad strategic relationship between the US, Australia, Japan and India has been revived.
The Philippines is no longer severing its military cooperation pact with the US, citing the militarisation of the South China Sea as a rationale.

Outside the Asia-Pacific, Xi’s attempts to court friendships for China have also failed.
Last year, the European Union labelled China a “systemic rival”.
Britain is reportedly reconsideringits decision to allow Chinese technology firm Huawei to build its 5G infrastructure.

Even more extraordinary was the UK’s response to the proposed national security law for Hong Kong.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that upwards of 3 million Hong Kong residents could be eligible for British passports and a pathway to citizenship.

Countries around the globe are suffering because of poor governance in China that values secrecy over safety.
Moreover, China’s attempt to control the messaging about its response to the virus viz-à-viz Western governments’ has backfired.
China’s bullying of Australia after its prime minister advocated for an independent investigation into the virus’ origins is also backfiring.
Beijing’s placing of tariffs on key Australian imports like beef and barley, and warnings to Chinese students not to go to the nation to study, has only further demonstrated to Australians that China is not a partner to be trusted.
Earlier this month, politicians from 12 countries –
Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the US and Britain – plus the European Parliament
Joined together to establish the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.
The organisation aims to help coordinate an international response to the challenges posed by China.
These nations did not band together against China before Xi came to power.
Recent actions of China on Indian borders has further created a wide gap b/w both the countries.

If his foreign policy had aimed to bring China into a position to help rewrite the international order in a manner favourable to China’s own interests, it is failing.
If it was aimed at gaining new friends, it is failing.
If it was aiming to court US allies away from Washington, it is failing.
China’s wolf warriors may dismiss all these developments and its Twitter trolls may try to sow propaganda overseas,
But these actions only further indicate to the world that China cannot be trusted.