China has put its attitude on the table, editorial: Foreign Relations Law of China | Law | Foreign Relations
The Foreign Relations Law of the People's Republic of China will come into effect on July 1st this year. This is the first fundamental foreign related law since the founding of the People's Republic of China that focuses on elaborating on China's major policies, principles, positions, and institutional system for foreign work, and making overall provisions for the development of China's foreign relations. Moreover, China is currently the first major country to have a foreign relations law, so this legislation has distinct Chinese characteristics. As China increasingly approaches the center stage of the world stage, it is increasingly necessary to formulate a comprehensive legislation in the field of foreign relations. This is obviously not just a short-term response to some external challenges, but a culmination of the development of China's relations with the world.
People with a positive mindset read very positive things from this Foreign Relations Law, including China's views on development, security, civilization, and a relatively systematic concept of a community with a shared future for mankind. The essence conveyed by the Foreign Relations Law to the world is China's determination to adhere to the path of peaceful development, promote the construction of a new type of international relations, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. China advocates the peaceful resolution of international disputes, opposes the use or threat of force in international relations, and opposes hegemonism and power politics; These are not only the principled attitudes of China's diplomacy, but also solemn legal declarations and legal practices.
China's promulgation of the Foreign Relations Law is not only a self-improvement in the new situation and international environment, but also a transcendence of the old paradigm. Through a complete set of laws, the peaceful nature of China's development and diplomacy, the anti hegemonic and power political nature, and the open nature have been determined. No other country has done so before. This is the strongest refutation of the "China threat theory" portrayed by the United States and the West. China, which has broken the logic of "a strong country must dominate", has created a new model of foreign exchanges with global significance. The stronger China is, the greater its contribution to world peace and stability. As long as a country has normal dealings with China, it is not difficult to feel China's goodwill and responsibility as a major country from the Foreign Relations Law.
At the same time, this law also provides valuable stability to the global governance system currently affected by the wave of anti globalization and regional hot conflicts. For example, the Foreign Relations Law clarifies the obligation of a country to fulfill its obligations under relevant treaties and agreements in good faith, and also specifies the measures taken by a country to implement binding sanctions resolutions and related measures made by the United Nations Security Council under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. It can be said that foreign relations law provides the answer from China on how to properly handle the relationship between domestic law and international law, which is to firmly uphold the international system centered on the United Nations and the international order based on international law, and firmly defend international fairness and justice.
It is not surprising that some Western and American public opinion is nervous about China's foreign relations law and even tries to smear it in the first place. This is first and foremost a self projection of the long-term abuse of legal behavior in the United States. For decades, Washington has repeatedly used so-called domestic laws to exercise "long arm jurisdiction" over other countries, trampling on international law and norms, and imposing illegal unilateral sanctions or intimidation on other countries, causing many countries to suffer greatly. Now that they see China introducing such a law, they naturally instinctively worry whether China will use the same means to "retaliate" against the United States. In other words, this is their habitual double standard, and it is also a feeling of guilt for doing too much at a loss.
Of course, the introduction of China's Foreign Relations Law does have a background, which is that the unreasonable suppression of China by the United States is becoming increasingly excessive, and China has traditionally been a country that values peace and is not easily willing to use anti sanctions tools. The Foreign Relations Law now further demonstrates China's determination to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests in legal form. In this sense, the Foreign Relations Law has teeth, and anyone who intends to deal with China with malice and attempt to infringe on China's legitimate rights and interests will definitely feel the pain, which is also very clear.
In international communication, law is an indispensable and important link, and it is also a reflection of a country's original intention and attitude in dealing with foreign countries. In a certain sense, the promulgation and implementation of the Foreign Relations Law is a reflection and strengthening of China's strategic transparency. China's diplomacy is open and straightforward. We hope to be friends with everyone, but we will not let any actions that harm China's interests go unchecked. Whether we support or oppose them, they are all on the table. Shouldn't such a great country be trustworthy, lovely, and respectable?!
