The Dominant Thinking Sets in Chinese Foreign Policy Research: A Criticism

‘Thinking sets’ refer to particular aspects of knowledge, or ideas, which upon accumulation and dissemination are institutionalized as a means of understanding a phenomenon or actor, and which enable the understanding of its internal logic or the thinking which guides its behaviour, its content, and its expectations and preferences. Since the 1990s, a number of dominant thinking sets have emerged within Chinese foreign policy research circles, including: keeping a low profile, nonalignment, never taking the lead, China will not become a superpower, priority to Sino–US relations, and diplomacy serving economic development. For many years, these thinking sets helped our understanding of the objectives and trends of China’s foreign policy. In more recent years, as Chinese foreign policy has adapted, it is now important to reflect upon and discuss the direction in which these thinking sets might evolve. In particular, how Chinese foreign policy analysts should understand the relationship between Deng Xiaoping’s ‘28 character guidelines for foreign policy’ and the spirit of the 2013 Working Conference on Neighbouring State Diplomacy and, more specifically, the relationship between ‘keeping a low profile’ and ‘striving for achievement’, will determine the ongoing relevance of these thinking sets.