Frequently Asked Questions
What role do ecology and culture play in the project of building a superpower within Xi Jinping's doctrine?
Ecology and culture are equal pillars of building state power, providing it with durability as well as a soul and a language of legitimacy. Ecology serves as a strategic condition protecting productivity and stability, while culture allows China to aspire to the role of a civilization capable of producing its own meanings.
What role do culture and national identity play in Xi Jinping's project for the modernization of China?
Culture constitutes the second pillar of China's modernization, intended to prevent the loss of national identity and symbolic dependence on other states. Its role is to build a proprietary civilizational code and a narrative that will allow China to actively shape the global interpretation of the world and promote indigenous socialist values.
How does Xi Jinping's doctrine utilize culture and values to control society and shape China's global image?
Xi Jinping's doctrine treats socialist values and creatively transformed tradition as an educational project which, through education, culture, and law, is meant to mold citizens and prevent social chaos. On a global scale, China uses culture as soft power and a narrative of 'harmony without uniformity' to build the image of a responsible superpower and independently define its history on the international stage.
How does Xi Jinping's doctrine utilize culture and ecology to build China's power?
Xi Jinping's doctrine utilizes culture as a tool for building soft power, so that the world admires the Chinese path and understands it outside of the Western model. It aims to modernize the state without destroying its identity and to transform China into a civilizational superpower that imposes its own concepts and vision of the future.
How does Xi Jinping's foreign policy combine declarations of peaceful development with the uncompromising protection of national interests?
Xi Jinping's foreign policy combines declarations of peaceful development and harmony with the uncompromising protection of sovereignty and key national interests, which Beijing does not intend to sacrifice. This is a structure of 'soft packaging and a hard core,' in which cooperation and dialogue coexist with clearly defined red lines.
What is the concept of a community with a shared future, and how do China implement it in practice through the Belt and Road Initiative?
The concept of a community with a shared future defines the goal of China's foreign policy as building a world based on interdependence, development, and pluralism instead of the hegemony of a single center. In practice, it is implemented through the Belt and Road Initiative, which constitutes a form of material diplomacy involving the financing and construction of infrastructure such as ports, railways, and power plants.
How are China building its influence in the world and what alternative do they propose to the Western model of global governance?
China builds influence through cooperation with developing countries without imposing political reforms and through activity in organizations such as the UN, G20, and BRICS. They propose an alternative in the form of less unilateral globalization and civilizational pluralism, striving to strengthen the voice of the Global South in global governance.
How do China use its own diplomatic initiatives and language to build a new world order in relations with the USA, EU, and Russia?
China is building an alternative order through the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, promoting common security and civilizational pluralism as a counterweight to Western universalism. In relations with the USA, they strive for 'new-type relations' based on mutual respect for Chinese red lines; with the EU, they play on diverging interests by proposing partnership; and with Russia, they maintain an anti-hegemonic strategic partnership to balance US influence.
How do China implement their security strategy in the region and what are the main obstacles in striving for territorial unification?
China strives for national unification and sovereignty over Taiwan, not ruling out coercive measures in the event of the island's pursuit of formal independence. The main obstacles are the Taiwanese aspirations for self-determination and democracy, US support for the island's security, and the lack of credibility of the 'one country, two systems' model following the events in Hong Kong.
How has China's foreign policy strategy changed under the rule of Xi Jinping and what is its goal?
China's strategy has shifted from a low-profile policy to active great-power diplomacy. Its goal is to reconfigure the international hierarchy and to co-create and transform the global order so that the Chinese system and interests are not subordinate to Western values and institutions.
How does Chinese foreign policy reflect the internal assumptions of Xi Jinping's doctrine?
Chinese foreign policy constitutes an export of systemic imagination, transferring the internal concepts of Xi Jinping's doctrine to the international arena. It aims to build a world friendly to the Chinese model, where sovereignty protects governments from external interference and development legitimizes power.
What is the concept of holistic security in Xi Jinping's doctrine and how does it function in practice?
The concept of holistic security treats the state as a system of total resilience, where security is not a separate sector but a nervous system encompassing nearly all spheres of life, from economy and technology to culture and ecology. In practice, it is based on the overriding priority of political security (the survival of the Party) and the tight coupling of development with security, with the National Security Commission serving as its central coordinating instrument.
What is the role and status of the army in Xi Jinping's political system?
In Xi Jinping's system, the army is an instrument of the party-state, completely subordinate to the leadership of the CPC and the principle that 'the Party commands the gun.' Through the responsibility system of the Chairman of the Central Military Commission, control over strategy and command has been personally concentrated around Xi Jinping.
How is Xi Jinping reforming the Chinese army to prepare it for real conflicts and to reclaim Taiwan?
Xi Jinping is reforming the army by transitioning from a mass model to a joint operations model, integrating data, cyberspace, AI, as well as space and missile capabilities. Changes include reorganizing command structures, reducing troop numbers, and introducing exercises that simulate real battlefield conditions. Simultaneously, deep anti-corruption purges are being conducted to ensure the loyalty and operational efficiency of the armed forces.
How do China define modern national security beyond military issues?
Chinese national security includes combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism, as well as fighting drug trafficking and organized crime. It also encompasses technological and informational sovereignty, food and energy self-sufficiency, and economic development as the foundation of stability.
What does the concept of holistic security in Xi Jinping's doctrine entail and what are its consequences for society and international relations?
This concept consists of building total resilience through the synchronization of the army, the Party, and society, as well as the integration of the civilian economy with the military. For society, this means prioritizing political stability over individual freedom and the risk of expanding surveillance into all spheres of life. In international relations, this leads to a spiral of mutual accusations, where China perceives its modernization as defense against US pressure, which in turn is interpreted by the West as a threat.
What is modern state security in Xi Jinping's doctrine and how does it translate to the issue of China's unification?
Modern security in Xi Jinping's doctrine is the integrated resilience of a superpower, combining the military and technology with the economy, culture, and social stability. In the context of China's unification, this issue is a prerequisite for the state's rebirth as a great civilization, implemented through the 'one country, two systems' principle, which assumes the preservation of autonomy and capitalism in regions such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.
How do China interpret the autonomy of special regions and unification with Taiwan in the context of national security?
China interprets national security as a necessary condition for stability and prosperity, which forms the foundation for the functioning of autonomy in special regions. In the context of Taiwan, Beijing considers the island an indivisible part of one China and treats independence aspirations as a real threat to peace.
How do China use the rhetoric of kinship and coast guard activities to exert pressure on Taiwan?
China uses the metaphor of family and blood ties to create a morally difficult-to-reject narrative of community, which can serve to invalidate Taiwan's political will. Simultaneously, Beijing applies 'gray zone' pressure, utilizing the coast guard for patrols and maritime law enforcement, aimed at normalizing the presence of Chinese services and testing the limits of the opponent's reaction.
Why is the Taiwan issue a multi-layered project for China and what factors hinder its realization?
The Taiwan issue is a multi-layered project for China because it encompasses historical, symbolic, geostrategic, technological, and political dimensions. The realization of this goal is hindered by, among others, US military support for the island, Taiwanese democratic identity, the lack of credibility of the 'one country, two systems' model after the experiences of Hong Kong, and the fact that economic dependence does not lead to political unification.
Why is the Taiwan issue a matter of national dignity for Xi Jinping and how does Beijing plan to achieve unification?
The Taiwan issue is treated as an element of the 'Chinese Dream' and a matter of national dignity, where unification is intended to ensure security and prosperity for the entire nation. Beijing seeks to achieve this goal through multi-domain pressure (including military, economic, and psychological) and the offer of 'one country, two systems,' which assumes autonomy while maintaining absolute Chinese sovereignty.
How does the issue of Taiwan's unification fit into Xi Jinping's doctrine, and what does it reveal about China's ambitions?
In Xi Jinping's doctrine, the unification of Taiwan is a symbolic closure of history and a test of the 'Chinese Dream,' which envisions the great rejuvenation of the nation. This testifies to China's ambition not to be merely an administrator of chance, but an architect of the future, striving for the restitution of dignity and the country's return to the center of the world.
How does Xi Jinping's doctrine link the personal happiness of citizens with the internal discipline of the Party and the long-term strategy of the state?
Xi Jinping's doctrine links the prosperity of citizens with the success of the state and the nation, giving meaning to their efforts through long-term strategic goals spanning centuries. Simultaneously, it assumes rigorous internal Party discipline and a fight against corruption to prevent the corrosion of power and ensure effective governance of the country.
How does Xi Jinping's doctrine utilize the economy, technology, social policy, and ecology to build state power?
Xi Jinping's doctrine treats the market as a tool subordinate to state goals, and technology (AI, Big Data) as the foundation of sovereignty and strategic independence. Social policy serves to build stability by ensuring basic life security, while ecology is treated as a condition for sustainable development and the protection of productivity.
How do China use culture, diplomacy, and broadly defined security to build its global position?
China builds its position by strengthening soft power based on its own culture and values, and by pursuing a strategy of peaceful development that exports Chinese governance philosophy. At the same time, it implements a concept of holistic security, integrating political, technological, and military dimensions to create a state resilient to modern threats.
What are the practical tests of Xi Jinping's doctrine regarding territorial unification, and what weaknesses are hidden within the structure of this superpower project?
The practical tests of the doctrine are the issues of Hong Kong, Macau, and above all Taiwan, where the credibility of the 'one country, two systems' principle and the possibility of building a national community without the consent of a democratic society are being verified. The weaknesses of the project include excessive centralization of truth hindering the flow of inconvenient information, the extension of the security concept to all aspects of social life, and the risk of losing cultural vitality and innovation due to overly tight state control.
What are the greatest threats to Xi Jinping's doctrine, and what can other states learn from the Chinese model of governance?
The threats to Xi Jinping's doctrine include nationalist pressure, the risk of escalation regarding Taiwan, and demographic, economic, and social problems that weaken the legitimacy of power. Other states can draw a lesson from the Chinese model on the necessity of translating values into concrete institutions and strategies, and increasing state agency and accountability by replacing empty declarations with effective execution.
What universal conclusions and lessons can be drawn from the analysis of Xi Jinping's doctrine in the context of building an efficient state?
Building an efficient state requires moving away from a policy of appearances toward the real implementation of strategies and enclosing power within an "institutional cage" (e.g., constitutions and courts) to prevent its degradation. It is essential to create a coherent vision of the common good and one's own narrative about the future that combines sovereignty with individual dignity and strategic institutional management.
What conclusions can be drawn from the analysis of Xi Jinping's doctrine for the world and democratic systems?
Xi Jinping's doctrine is based on centralism, discipline, and long-term planning, combining modern technology with Marxist discipline and Confucian morality. Its strength lies in coherence and the ability to mobilize, while its main risks are excessive centralization, the suppression of pluralism, and the restriction of individual freedom.
