Xi Jinping’s perception of changes in international order and Policy Implications 

Shin Jongho, Chung Jae-hung

(jonghos@kinu.or.kr, jameschung@sejong.org)

Senior Research Fellow, Korea Institute for National Unification

Research Fellow, the Sejong Institute

Executive Summary

■ Issues Raised

○ Xi Jinping’s perception of changes in international order, such as the intensifying U.S.-China strategic competition and the Russia-Ukraine war, is very important. If China seeks to create a new international order in the future, it could seriously affect Korea's foreign strategy.

■ The Direction of the Liberal International Order

○ With the U.S.-led liberal international order showing signs of decline, the Biden administration is taking various policy measures to restore global leadership. It is still not enough for China to have global dominance. 

■ Changes in China's leadership's perception of the structure of international order

○ Previous Chinese leaders have established foreign strategies based on the perspectives of their times. Xi Jinping has also begun to emphasize the arrival of a "new era" in which China has entered the center of the world and must contribute to mankind.

- Xi’s leadership  insists on creating a new "international order" led by China, which values the role of the United Nations and the principles of international law and breaking away from the existing U.S.-led "world order.“

■ Xi Jinping's foreign strategy to create a new international order

○ Xi is promoting “building new international relations”, “building a community of human destiny,” and “global governance reform” based on the “Great Power Identity” and is attempting to create an alternative international order through the Belt and Road Initiative. 

- China is expected to continue its efforts to expand its influence through a "long-term war" that prioritizes economic development and stability rather than directly challenging the U.S.-led world order

■ Key Policy Implications

○ As it is possible to maintain the international order of liberalism and gradually decline in the short term and there is a possibility of attempting to create a new international order in the mid to long term, a preemptive response is necessary

○ It is necessary to enhance the strategic value by utilizing Korea's geopolitical and geological advantages

○ Instead of choosing “a specific country,” it is necessary to select “by issue” based on national interests

○ Promote a minilateral diplomacy with counties that share values and norms with korma as “newly developed countries” 

○ It is necessary to break away from the traditional idea that China is an economic partner and the United States is a security partner but combine security and economy

○ It is necessary to enhance the autonomy of Korean diplomacy by separating the U.S.-China strategic competition and the North Korean nuclear issue

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