Major Aspects of President Xi Jinping’s Thought on Diplomacy

- Uphold the authority of the CPC Central Committee as the overarching principle and
strengthen the centralised, unified leadership of the Party on external work.
- Advance Major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics to fulfil the mission of
realising national rejuvenation
- Take preserving world peace and pursuing common development as the purpose to
promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity
- Enhance strategic confidence with socialism with Chinese characteristics as the support
- Forge ahead with the Belt and Road construction following the principle of achieving shared
growth through discussion and collaboration.
- Follow the path of peaceful development on the basis of mutual respect and win-win
cooperation
- Develop global partnerships while advancing a diplomatic agenda
- Lead the reform of the global governance system with concept of fairness and justice
- Take national core interests as the bottom lime to safeguard China’s sovereignty, security,
and development interests.
- Nurture a distinctive style of Chinese diplomacy by combining the fine tradition of external
work and current characteristics.

China Religious and Ethnic Policy

1. Religion stands on an ambivalent position:

- Religion is neither accepted nor fully outlawed in China. Religious practices [Islam,
Buddhism, Christianity] are widespread.
- The central government has intervened in religious practices; bishops appointed to the
Catholic institution in China are approved by the CCP [contrary to common practice in
other countries whereby the Vatican often has the authority].
- Tibetan Buddhism remains a target of the state due to the Dalai Lama’s political
influence. The Panchen Lama selected by the government differs from that as selected
from the reincarnation and oracle sayings. The ‘true’ Panchen [according to the oracle]
remains locked away by the state in an unknown location.
- Islam, particularly in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region is associated with activities of
extremism, terrorism and separatism. Like other ongoing narrative of Islamophobia,
Islam is being conveniently used and blamed as the root cause of unrest in Xinjiang. This
has allowed the government to suppress the population in Xinjiang – for reasons of
regional security.

2. Ethnic policy self-contradicts:

- China officially recognises 55 ethnic minorities, and 1 Han ethnic majority.
- China has designated 5 autonomous regions: Xinjiang, Tibet, Ningxia, Guangxi, Inner
Mongolia, which are associated with 5 ethnic groups.
- These autonomous regions are legislated and regulated by the Chinese Constitution and
the Law on Regional National Autonomy 1984.
- Regional autonomy allows regional governments to self-govern and make changes on
local regulations to suit to the needs and differences of the ethnic minorities. But, any
major legal enactment requires the approval of the Standing Committee of the National
People’s Congress (NPC).
- While the Chairmen of the autonomous regions are to be an ethnic minority, the Party
Secretary in the region remains an ethnic Han candidate. Party Secretaries often wield
more influence than Chairmen and have closer connections to the CCP and the NPC
Standing Committee.

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