From Legislation to Strategy: Understanding China’s New Law on Foreign Relations

Abstract

States require both international and domestic legal frameworks to regulate interactions between national and international institutions, citizens, and foreign actors. The Law on Foreign Relations of the People’s Republic of China (中华人民共和国对外关系法), enacted in June 2023 and effective from July 1, marks the first and most comprehensive legal framework in China’s legislative history for governing its external engagements across political, economic, legal, and security dimensions. More than a domestic measure, the law reflects China’s ambition to institutionalize its expanding global role and harmonize domestic legal mechanisms with international commitments. Introduced during a period of intensified engagement with global governance, it coincides with President Xi Jinping’s shift from Deng Xiaoping’s Tao Guang Yang Hui (“hide-and-bide”) approach toward a more proactive international presence, while maintaining the discourse of peaceful development and win-win cooperation. This study examines the strategic, political, and legal motivations behind the law’s adoption, positioning it within China’s broader foreign policy trajectory. Using a qualitative, document-based methodology, it draws on official statements, speeches, policy reports, and academic literature. The analysis considers the law not only as a legal instrument but also as a strategic tool to strengthen domestic–international linkages, consolidate foreign policy under centralized leadership, and project acoherent international image aligned with China’s long-term vision.

Keywords

• International Law
• China
• China’s Law on Foreign Relations
• Foreign Policy
• International Politics

Mevzuattan Stratejiye: Çin'in Dış İlişkilerle İlgili Yeni Yasasını Anlamak

Abstract

Devletler, ulusal ve uluslararası kurumlar, vatandaşlar ve yabancı aktörler arasındaki ilişkileri düzenlemek için hem uluslararası hem de ulusal hukuk çerçevelerine ihtiyaç duyar. 2023 yılı Haziran ayında kabul edilip 1 Temmuz’da yürürlüğe giren Çin Halk Cumhuriyeti Dışİlişkiler Yasası (中华人民共和国对外关系法), Çin’in yasama tarihinde dış ilişkilerini siyasi, ekonomik, hukuki ve güvenlik boyutlarında düzenleyen ilk ve en kapsamlı yasal çerçeveyi temsil etmektedir. Bu yasa, salt bir iç hukuk düzenlemesi olmanın ötesinde, Çin’in küresel rolünü kurumsallaştırma ve ulusal hukuk mekanizmalarını uluslararası taahhütleriyle uyumlu hâle getirme arzusunu yansıtmaktadır. Küresel yönetişimle artan etkileşim döneminde yürürlüğe giren yasa, Devlet BaşkanıŞi Cinping’in Deng Şiaoping’in Tao Guang Yang Hui (“gizlen ve zamanını bekle”) yaklaşımından, barışçıl kalkınma ve kazan-kazan söylemini sürdürmekle birlikte, daha etkin ve görünür bir uluslararası varlığa yönelen stratejisine denk düşmektedir. Bu çalışma, yasanın kabul edilmesinin ardındaki stratejik, siyasi ve hukuki motivasyonları inceleyerek onu Çin’in genel dış politika çizgisi içinde konumlandırmaktadır. Nitel, belge temelli bir yöntemle yürütülen araştırma; resmî açıklamalar, lider konuşmaları, politika raporları ve akademik literatürü temel almakta; yasayı yalnızca bir hukuk metni olarak değil, aynı zamanda iç-dış bağlantıları güçlendiren, dış politikayı merkezî liderlik altında pekiştiren ve Çin’in uzun vadeli vizyonuyla uyumlu tutarlı bir uluslararası imaj oluşturan stratejik bir araç olarak değerlendirmektedir.

Keywords

• Uluslararası Hukuk
• Çin
• Çin Dışİlişkiler Yasası
• Dış Politika
• Uluslararası Politika

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