The new law stipulates that Beijing has the right to take measures to counter and restrict actions (initiated by the West) that endanger the country’s sovereignty, security, and development interests and violate international law or fundamental norms of international relations.
On June 28th, 2023, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China passed The Foreign Relations Law. According to President Xi`s senior diplomacy advisor Wang Yi, the law aims to safeguard national sovereignty and act as a deterrent against sanctions.
The new law stipulates that Beijing has the right to take measures to counter and restrict actions (initiated by the West) that endanger the country’s sovereignty, security, and development interests and violate international law or fundamental norms of international relations. The law has come into effect since July 1st and encompasses President Xi`s signature foreign policy initiatives, i.e., global security, development, and civilization.
In essence, the new law is to shield itself and counter the West`s sanctions hegemony. It has been passed at a crucial time, with US-China relations at a low, especially after the US President branding President Xi as a dictator, the spy balloon saga, and China`s continued support for President Putin in Russia’s war against Ukraine. China sees ongoing hostile American efforts to suppress its development.
In a recent meeting with US Secretary Blinken, President Xi told the US envoy that Washington must not hurt China`s legitimate rights and interests or deprive it of its right to development. It follows US export controls on high-tech goods and its efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese suppliers in sensitive sectors. In recent months, the US has blacklisted Chinese companies, pushed its allies to restrict the export of semiconductors and de-risk its supply chain. China has viewed this as a direct attack.
To demonstrate to the US its point, China, too, has begun its sanctions. In February 2023, it sanctioned US defense firms Lockheed Martin and Raytheon over arms supplies to Taiwan.
In a world getting extremely polarized, mainly due to US actions, there needs to be a fair playing field for all—no more hegemonistic rule. As every country has a right to seek development and prosperity, China has underscored its right to retaliate if pushed into a corner or subjected to unfair measures.
The world in general is already beset by conflict, inflation, unemployment and inter-state tensions. Does it really make sense to fan those fires through political rhetoric and administrative actions that hurt other nations that are considered as competitors? The Indo-US Strategy and various strands of dialogues as well as partnership seem to be precisely doing that. Their stated objective is also to contain the challenge coming from China. The only challenge from China, it seems, is its growing economic power.
Despite all efforts, it has continued to serve as the engine of the global economy, GDP growth grew at a rate of 4.5 following a growth of 2.9 % in the previous quarter. China’s consumer economy showed signs of resurgence, with retail sales rising 10.6% in March, representing the biggest jump in almost two years and more than double the forecast rate. Industrial production also rose 3.9% compared with a year earlier, a five-month high, despite the massive disruptions that the COVID19 caused across the world. That underlines the resilience of the Chinese economy that works also to the advantage of the world. A more collaborative rather than a confrontationist approach will serve the world better than a confrontationist policy that imperils not only the global political security but also the economic landscape. Collaborative approach probably would not have prompted the Foreign Relations Law that Chinese leaders now think as an unavoidable tool to safeguard its security and economic interests.
