Accepting China’s Peaceful Rise Serves the Interests of the West

China has all along made it clear that it follows the path of peaceful development. Chinese President Xi Jinping explained that this path is a strategic choice made in the fundamental interests of the Chinese people in a written speech on November 17, 2022.

The commitment to the path of peaceful development has remained a cornerstone of China’s foreign policy for decades, underpinning China’s approach to regional and global issues—emphasizing historical wisdom, tangible development, and understanding of the root causes of conflicts. It has resonated. Conflicts are complex and lead to cycles of suffering, resentment, and turbulence that last for generations. Wars are never the solution.

As China assumes a more central role as a global leader, Beijing’s commitment to a peaceful rise has sparked heated discussions among international relations experts. Mainstream Western scholars maintain that rarely in history has a rising power peacefully displaced the existing hegemon. From the “Thucydides trap” to offensive realism, contemporary theories in international relations predominantly predict a major clash between Washington and Beijing, both seen as vying for hegemony. However, China’s unprecedented ascent has confounded these predictions. Defying historical precedents, China’s rise has remained peaceful, redefining the discourse on development.

For decades, leading Western theories have remarkably failed to predict China’s trajectory. China’s huge population, once deemed the country’s biggest challenge by economists, was transformed into its greatest strength. While reform and opening-up spurred economic growth, China’s economy diverged from the Western capitalist model. Similarly, widespread expectations of China adopting a Western-style democracy in its process of modernization did not materialize. Instead, China has developed an advanced political system, including the “whole-process people’s democracy,” aimed at addressing the diverse needs of the Chinese people. Today, this system has delivered tangible results, increased people’s participation, and successfully tackled challenges like poverty. By prioritizing the well-being of its people, China’s unique governance system has challenged long-held notions of good governance, sparking significant interest, particularly from developing countries.

In the last decade, Beijing’s outreach and initiatives have similarly evolved to strengthen and build upon existing consensus on effective global governance by uniting countries to act on global commitments to shared human development. For instance, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), portrayed by some as merely roads, railways, ports, and pipelines, has emerged as a multifaceted, multi-layered platform for partnership that empowers countries and regions to meet their core development targets. Addressing effective governance, food security, biodiversity, education, and a host of other issues as deemed appropriate, the BRI not only aligns with but also strengthens the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

The fast-expanding Shanghai Cooperation Organization also stands as a template for peaceful development. By identifying collective security challenges and promoting collaboration between countries, the Shanghai Spirit aims for lasting peace and shared prosperity. The Global Security Initiative and China’s efforts in the historic Saudi-Iran peace deal further demonstrate Beijing’s role as a peacemaker and its partnership-driven approach, as opposed to the zero-sum and alliance-driven mindset of existing status quo powers.

Based on its strategic interests as well as traditional values, China’s commitment to a peaceful rise is a pragmatic choice as well, as it has enabled the Chinese nation to focus on qualitative improvements and reach key milestones such as achieving a “moderately prosperous society” and initiating the “rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” Chinese leaders have never talked about any ambitions concerning “others;” although they have made it clear that China is committed to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China’s focus remains on constant development, consistent improvement, Chinese modernization, and people-centered progress. These principles are deeply rooted in China’s millennia-old, well-documented, and currently relevant philosophical heritage. Confucian principles, emphasizing harmony, benevolence, and ethical governance, have long shaped the fabric of Chinese society. Likewise, Taoist teachings advocate for non-interference, naturalness, and the pursuit of balance in all endeavors.

These philosophical traditions provide a cultural foundation that prioritizes stability, cooperation, and conflict avoidance. Furthermore, China’s historical experiences, including periods of internal strife and foreign aggression, have instilled a pragmatic approach to international relations, emphasizing the importance of security and peaceful coexistence.

Xi Jinping’s assertion that “China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, and always be a builder of world peace” embodies the contemporary commitment of Chinese leadership to a peaceful rise on the global stage. This commitment emphasizes continuity with traditional values while embracing modern challenges. Today, China is the major trading partner of over 140 countries and regions. From a pragmatic perspective, this fact leads China to pursue peaceful, cooperative, and common development. In a globalized and increasingly multipolar world, the inertia of Chinese history and China’s impact on the global stage also warrants innovative ways to perceive China’s role in the world. Peace, particularly in an increasingly diverse world that is connected and vocal against discrimination, is the only path forward.

Today, as the war in Gaza unfolds and millions endure the devastating consequences of relentless bombardment, the world once again confronts the hypocrisy and double standards of some established powers. With images of homes, hospitals, and schools reduced to rubble, and with children and women comprising the majority of the mounting death toll, millions across the globe demand an immediate ceasefire, leading to deepening disillusionment and distrust of those who profit from the conflict. The call for pragmatic, responsible, and peace-driven leadership demands authenticity and moral clarity. It seeks universality in principles as opposed to enforced uniformity, prioritizing the global community’s collective goals for safeguarding humanity across race, gender, and nationality.

All in all, China’s success and rise showcase new possibilities for the world, illustrating what is possible and achievable. China’s peaceful rise instills hope, and its commitment to nurturing a more equitable and just world order responds to the global aspirations of the vast majority of humanity. Isolating China is not an option for the U.S., the EU, or other allies who have attempted to challenge Beijing through political provocations and trade wars. Instead, recognizing the world as it stands today and accepting China’s peaceful rise— with growing roles of Asia, Africa, and Latin America in a connected and globalized world— should better serve the interests of the West and help build a better future for mankind.

Zoon Ahmed Khan, research fellow of Center for China and Globalization (CCG), and PhD Candidate at Department of International Relations, Tsinghua University.