The Foreign Relations Law of the People’s Republic of China: A Structural Shift in Policy Making
In a landmark move, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress enacted the Foreign Relations Law of the People’s Republic of China, with its provisions set to take effect on July 1, 2023. As reported by Kommersant, the law lays down the core principles and tasks guiding China’s diplomatic efforts. The framework underscores safeguarding sovereignty and national security, prioritizing the interests of the Chinese people, pursuing peaceful development, and maintaining open foreign economic engagement. It also anchors China’s governance within the country’s ideological tradition, referencing Marxism-Leninism, the legacy of Mao Zedong, and Xi Jinping’s concept of socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era, linking foreign policy to domestic political philosophy.
The legislation marks a first in how foreign relations are managed. It assigns state apparatuses a consolidated authority to handle both foreign policy and economic management, rather than distributing these duties across multiple departments. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) remains the primary body for international cooperation and for overseeing China’s diplomatic missions, but its work is now expected to be coordinated with the State Council to ensure unified direction. The law designates China’s capacity to negotiate treaties and agreements with other states under government oversight, and it positions foreign policy as a coordinated national project rather than a collection of independent departmental functions. It also sets out the mandate for active participation in foreign policy within the wider powers held by other ministries and agencies.
Observing the implications, observers note a significant reorganization of how China conducts its external relations. Historically, the MFA operated under party control; the new statute integrates foreign affairs more directly into the government’s framework, aligning diplomatic action with the State Council’s executive authority. This shift is expected to improve coherence in policy execution as China pursues its strategic aims on the global stage.
Supporters within the government’s leadership, including the CPC Central Committee’s Foreign Affairs Committee, argue that strengthened structural coordination will help realize national objectives such as sustained economic growth and heightened security. Wang Yi, who leads the commission office, has emphasized that the new law broadens the legal tools available to counter external pressure or aggression, signaling a more assertive posture in response to perceived threats. The law also clarifies that foreign enterprises operating within China must comply with national security requirements and align with the public interest, ensuring that commercial activities do not undermine state priorities or social stability.
Experts note that while the law does not enumerate specific external risks or intervention mechanisms, it empowers the State Council to establish the necessary regulations and rules to thwart threats and safeguard national interests. This flexibility is seen as enabling a rapid policy response in a fast-changing global environment, while preserving a framework that supports China’s long-term development strategy and security architecture. The document’s emphasis on coordination among ministries reflects a wider trend in Chinese governance aimed at presenting a more united and predictable approach to international engagement.
In practical terms, this reform is expected to influence how foreign investment is assessed, how international agreements are negotiated, and how China participates in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. It signals to foreign partners that China intends to pursue its goals through orderly mechanisms and a clearer line of authority, rather than through dispersed authority across separate departments. The law’s language also reinforces the principle that China’s external actions must serve national interests, enhance security, and contribute to economic openness, while still prioritizing the homing of foreign policy within the broader ideological framework guiding the country’s governance.
Analysts also highlight the potential for a more predictable regulatory environment for multinational corporations operating in China. They expect improved clarity about compliance expectations, especially regarding national security considerations and the avoidance of actions that could disrupt China’s social order. At the same time, the policy signals that China will continue to pursue open economic policies, while maintaining robust safeguards to protect strategic sectors and sensitive information. The shift is thus positioned as a balancing act between openness and protection, a common theme in China’s external strategy in the current era.
For observers overseas, the law marks a meaningful step toward a more formalized and centralized framework for foreign policy decision-making. It aligns domestic power with the country’s evolving international role and reflects broader ambitions to shape global norms and economic relations in ways that support China’s development goals. The result is a more coherent, assertive, and strategically calibrated posture in China’s ongoing engagement with the world. This evolution is being tracked by policymakers, business leaders, and scholars who seek to understand how the new legal framework will influence cross-border cooperation, investment flows, and international diplomacy in the years ahead. The broader context includes ongoing economic sanctions developments, shifts in global trade dynamics, and the continuing evolution of international security concerns that will test how China applies its new foreign relations governance in practice. These dynamics are summarized with careful attention to the changing architecture of China’s diplomatic machinery and its implications for global partners. This is the landscape in which foreign policy will be designed and implemented under the new law.
Citation: Kommersant notes the law articulates core diplomatic principles and the systemic changes it introduces. The analysis is corroborated by official statements from Chinese authorities and subsequent commentary from regional observers in North America and beyond. The broader international response reflects a spectrum of perspectives on how China plans to manage its outward engagement moving forward.