ARTIGOS|From Keepwing a Low Profile to Striving for Achievement de Yan Xuetong

From Keeping a Low Profile to Striving for Achievement

Since 2012, some scholars, both Chinese and foreign, have argued that
China’s assertive foreign policy is doomed to fail. Nevertheless, after examining
China’s foreign relations in the last two years, this paper finds that
China has experienced improved relations rather than deteriorating ones.
In comparison with the strategy of keeping a low profile (KLP), the strategy
of striving for achievement (SFA) shows more efficiency in shaping a favorable
environment for China’s national rejuvenation. The author applies the
theory of moral realism to explaining the role of the SFA strategy and
argues that morality can increase both international political strength and
the political legitimacy of a rising power. The key difference between the
KLP and the SFA is that the former focuses on economic gains and the latter
seeks to strengthen political support. That is the reason that the SFA values
the role of morality and the KLP does not. Due to these different goals,
the SFA strategy differs from the KLP strategy in aspects of tenets, general
layouts, working approaches, and methods. So far, the SFA has achieved
progress beyond people’s expectation from Xi Jinping in 2012. Xi’s strong
leadership may become a new case suitable for illustrating the theory of
moral realism.