Senior Officials from Asian Nations Visit China in Succession: Hong Kong Media Says China's Periphery Diplomacy Is Paying Off

Central Information

(Central News Agency reporter Zhang Qian, Hong Kong, 15th) According to analysis, China's foreign policy has consistently adhered to the principle of 'major powers are key, periphery is primary,' and this 'periphery is primary' diplomatic strategy has now shown clear results.

The Ming Pao newspaper published an article today stating that although China's aforementioned foreign policy places 'periphery is primary' after 'major powers (the United States) are key,' relatively speaking, the 'primary' status has been somewhat diminished.

It is pointed out that Chinese international relations scholar Yan Xuetong noted a decade ago that structural contradictions exist between China and the U.S., and that a rising major power requires support from neighboring countries. Therefore, strategic resources should be invested in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative to effectively manage the broader periphery.

The article states that China's periphery diplomacy has already shown results, especially since U.S. President Trump's second term, during which he launched a global tariff war—'only Beijing has dared to stand up to it'—further solidifying China's position among neighboring countries.

For example, since May this year, the foreign ministers of Iran, the president of Tajikistan, the crown prince of Brunei, the prime minister of Pakistan, and the general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party have all visited China. Additionally, the foreign minister of Nepal and the president of Myanmar have recently visited China. Adding to this, Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong visited in March, and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, visited in early April, sparking a wave of visits to China among neighboring nations.

Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping also made his first overseas visit this year, traveling to North Korea in early June. Recently, Politburo member and Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Mongolia, while Secretary of the Central Secretariat and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong visited Kazakhstan to attend the 'China-Central Asia Ministers of Public Security and Internal Affairs Meeting.'

The article notes that since Xi Jinping took office, periphery diplomacy has been emphasized. In October 2013, the first-ever 'Work Symposium on Periphery Diplomacy' since the founding of the People's Republic of China was held by the CPC Central Committee. Last April, this forum was upgraded from a 'symposium' to a 'meeting,' elevating the importance of periphery diplomacy and defining it as 'an important foundation for achieving development and prosperity, a key area for safeguarding national security, the top priority in managing the overall diplomatic landscape, and a critical element in promoting a community with a shared future for humanity.' The scope now covers diplomacy, military, trade, shipping, and other fields.

Xi Jinping's first overseas trip last year was to three Southeast Asian countries—Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia. In May, he visited four Central Asian countries (Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan), and in November, he visited South Korea.

Overall, the article states, China's current periphery diplomacy has seen deteriorating relations only with Japan and the Philippines. (Editor: Zhu Jianling) 1150615

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