The Evolution of Chinese Foreign Policy since 1949

China’s foreign policy since 1949 has been primarily defined by the nation’s relationship with superpowers. This is because a persistent sense of threat from one or the other or both of the superpowers to its national security has remained a constant theme behind Chinese foreign policy. Based on how the Chinese leadership has perceived and responded to external threats, Chinese foreign policy since 1949 can be divided into three periods, which have been respectively influenced by three powerful Chinese communist leaders, namely, Mao, Deng and Xi. While the fundamental tenets of Chinese foreign policy remain basically unchanged since 1949, the major substance of China’s foreign policy has clearly been transformed through these three periods. Chinese foreign policy during the first period under Mao’s influence (1949–1979) was predominantly driven by the concern over the nation’s security and survival; Chinese foreign policy of the second period under Deng’s influence (1979–2009) was primarily geared to help pursue the nation’s rapid economic development and modernization; and Chinese foreign policy of the current stage (2009–present) is driven by Xi Jinping’s ambition of rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making China a global power again in the context of rising Chinese power.