Righting the West’s Wrongs: Transformations in Chinese Foreign Policy for Global Influence Projection and Defence of Its Interests

Translated by Benedetta Morandini

In recent months, the People’s Republic of China has captured public attention with a significant shift in its approach to various global conflict scenarios. Indeed, Beijing has shown more pragmatism than usual in exerting its influence on the Russo-Ukrainian war and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as in pursuing economic agreements with actors such as Saudi Arabia and the Afghan Taliban. In these contexts, China has adopted a proactive approach and has taken concrete steps to safeguard its interests, legitimizing its actions through a narrative of correcting the mistakes of Western powers and equipping itself with a network of contacts that is as useful as it is diversified.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Ambiguous Neutrality

In the face of strong economic sanctions imposed at the onset of the ongoing war, Russia had to find new ways to keep its economy afloat. Moscow responded to initiatives for European energy emancipation and other policies damaging to its commercial activities by finding an alternative route through cooperation with the BRICS countries—especially China—to bypass trade with the West. In this way, Russia secured the resources needed to fund its war efforts, and China entered the picture, although it was accused of facilitating Russia’s actions.

The economic agreement was crucial not only for Russia but also for China, which gained access to natural resources at favourable prices at a time when its economic growth appeared to be stalling. For this reason, Beijing immediately declared itself a neutral party. However, this choice should not be interpreted as a form of distancing from the conflict: Chinese neutrality conceals the protection of its interests through the will to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv to secure a seat at the negotiating tables and influence the post-war global balance.

Nevertheless, the recent meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and the People’s Republic of China, Dmytro Kuleba and Wang Yi, demonstrated a growing tendency to explore more proactive and flexible forms of participation. Although this meeting did not result in concrete changes in the conflict, it holds significant symbolic value. By positioning itself as a potential mediator between Russia and Ukraine, Beijing shows not only the ability to balance relations with the involved states but also to offer alternative solutions to those proposed by the West, at a time when the latter is at the centre of criticism. By advocating for a negotiated peace and proposing itself as an arbiter, China not only demonstrates that it can move beyond its much-criticized bond with Russia but also undermines the idea that ending the war requires continued arming of Ukraine and taking the offensive into Russian territory.

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Beyond Superficial Economic Interests

In its quest for global influence projection, the People’s Republic of China has recently proposed itself as a mediator in one of the hottest regions on the planet: Palestine. At the end of July, Beijing hosted a historic meeting between Hamas and Fatah, two factions as important to the Palestinian context as they are antagonistic to each other, yet they agreed on the creation of a unity government after the end of hostilities with Israel.

Although this meeting, like all previous attempts at Palestinian political reconstruction, did not lead to practical changes, its symbolic weight is hard to ignore. China’s involvement in discussions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and post-war political reconstruction demonstrates a certain depth in Beijing’s diplomatic dossier, venturing into one of the most complex conflicts in modern history by going beyond economic interests and working towards political stability. Once again, this is a strong blow to Western powers in terms of rhetoric and soft power: China presents itself as a mediating power actively involved in rebuilding order, while the U.S.-led bloc continues to face criticism for providing arms and logistical support to Israel.

Riyadh-Beijing Agreement: The Uncertain Fate of Petrodollars and Investments for Economic Longevity

The People’s Republic of China has also taken on a more assertive and proactive role concerning its economic policy and global supply chains. Its relations with Saudi Arabia demonstrate how China can expand its influence in highly valuable geographical areas and leverage the BRICS economic bloc to jeopardize U.S. hegemony.

Since the beginning of this year, with Saudi Arabia’s entry into BRICS, the latter has initiated a process of rapprochement with China, consecrated by the non-renewal of the Petrodollar Agreement in June. No longer bound by any legal obligation to use the U.S. dollar for oil trade, the volume of transactions between Riyadh and Beijing has grown significantly, while those between Riyadh and Washington have decreased.

According to some experts, Saudi Arabia is doomed to eventual decline, as its economy revolves around oil in a world increasingly cautious about environmental issues. However, the strategic value of an ally like Riyadh in a highly unstable region like the Middle East pushes Beijing to find ways to avoid its downfall and to transform Saudi Arabia into a stronghold of Chinese influence in a context where the West has caused significant damage. For this reason, a consortium of China’s largest corporations signed Memoranda of Understanding with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), agreeing on investments worth $50 billion in the renewable energy sector. In this way, the People’s Republic of China invests in economic sustainability and seeks to ensure the longevity of the power of a key partner, blowing up decades of U.S. manipulation of oil market balances.

Collaboration with the Taliban: Interests First

The final example of China’s pragmatism concerns the Taliban-led Afghanistan. As is widely known, Afghanistan is a territory of immense strategic value and rich in natural resources such as lithium and other minerals. For this reason, after the withdrawal of Western troops in 2021, the People’s Republic successfully attempted to establish a partnership with the Taliban. However, cooperation between Beijing and Kabul has intensified since last year. In recent months, the two actors have agreed on investments in Afghan infrastructure, which are vital for the Belt and Road Initiative. Additionally, China has been granted the management of the Mes Aynak copper mine, one of the largest in the world. Finally, the Taliban have promised not to provide assistance or refuge to extremist groups from the Xinjiang region present in Afghan territory. In return, Beijing allows the Taliban to manage Afghan embassies in China.

The cooperation between Beijing and Kabul is a final example of how China seeks to expand its influence by correcting the mistakes made by Western powers. By establishing relations with the Taliban, investing in infrastructure, and collaborating in the field of security, the People’s Republic demonstrates not only how the U.S.-led bloc has mismanaged the Afghan scenario, amplifying the humiliation caused by the 2021 withdrawal, but also a great flexibility and ability to go beyond the paradigms of international politics to safeguard its interests, allying with non-state and highly controversial actors like the Taliban.

Concluding Remarks

In recent months, the People’s Republic of China, with the aim of safeguarding its interests on a global scale, has adopted a very pragmatic and proactive line of action, projecting its influence, inserting itself into conflict scenarios as a mediating power, and establishing relations with a wide range of actors. This new approach to international politics capitalizes on the mistakes made by the West and leverages them against it to counterbalance its influence and replace it where it has weakened. Although the paradigm shift in Chinese foreign affairs has not yet led to material results, its symbolic implications strongly impact the Western bloc, increasingly subject to sharp criticism for its questionable handling of recent global affairs.

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