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Xi Jinping’s ‘Major Country Diplomacy’: The Impacts of China’s Growing Capacity

ABSTRACT In five years, Xi Jinping transformed both domestic and external policies of China to become the only leader after Deng Xiaoping to radically alter internal political landscape and external relations during his first term in office. Chinese leaders from Mao down tended to render foreign policy to a role of a second fiddle in their overall scheme of governing. Xi, however, for reasons that will be explored in this article, has shown determination and confidence to recast this traditional delineation in favor of a more integrated approach. In doing so, Xi has managed to pursue a far more assertive diplomacy. To help understand how Xi managed to carry out his brand of “major country diplomacy” (大國外交), the article uses a modified model based on Joel Migdal’s state capacity theory. Through a largely populist and nationalist ideology wrapped in globalist rhetoric, institutional revamp and innovation, mobilization of resources, implementation with discipline, risk-taking but skillful leadership while taking advantage of “world historical timing,” Xi was able to build a much stronger diplomatic capacity. However, Xi’s “major country diplomacy” is not without problems and challenges. The prospect of China becoming a true global power is far from certain.