China's core interests (Chinese: 中国核心利益; pinyin: Zhōngguó Héxīn Lìyì) is a term used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to signify issues that are non-negotiable parts of foreign and domestic policy of the People's Republic of China.
History
The term was first coined by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 2003 in a discussion of Taiwanese independence.[1] The term's definition was expanded to include Tibet and Xinjiang in 2006. In July 2009, CCP's Central Foreign Affairs Leading Group Office Director Dai Bingguo gave remarks at the U.S.–China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, expanding the definition to define the primary goals that determine the country's foreign policy choices.[2]: 193 The core interests are: maintaining the power of the Chinese Communist Party, continuing China's social and economic growth, and preservation of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.[2]: 193 China also views these core interests as red lines that other countries' behavior should not cross.[2]: 193
White Paper on China’s Peaceful Development, released by the Chinese government in 2011, also confirmed the expanding definition.[3] The white paper defined China's core interests as national sovereignty, national security, territorial integrity, national unity, stability of the political system and society in line with the constitution, and sustainable socio-economic development.[4] The National Security Law of the People's Republic of China, which took into effect in 2015, defined the core interests as "the political regime; the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the nation; and people’s livelihoods, sustainable economic development of society and other major interests". The new definition also includes any sovereignty issues of importance such as the South China Sea, the Arunachal Pradesh and the Senkaku Islands dispute as a "core interest".[5][6]
References
- ^ "Core Interests". The Center for Strategic Translation. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
- ^ a b c Šimalčík, Matej (2023). "China in the World". In Kironska, Kristina; Turscanyi, Richard Q. (eds.). Contemporary China: a New Superpower?. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-03-239508-1.
- ^ Pilling, David (13 September 2011). "China's spreading 'core interests'". Financial Times. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Ng, Teddy; Chan, Minnie (29 January 2015). "Hong Kong added to Beijing's list of 'core interests' amid post-Occupy unease". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ^ Wong, Edward (2015-07-02). "Security Law Suggests a Broadening of China's 'Core Interests'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
- ^ Zeng, Jinghan; Xiao, Yuefan; Breslin, Shaun (March 2015). "Securing China's core interests: the state of the debate in China" (PDF). Chatham House. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
