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part of China’s history. Indeed, from 1840 to 1949, China knew defeats, occupations, and internal
disorder: the two Opium Wars; unequal treaties favoring European powers; territorial losses (Korea,
Mongolia, and Tibet); the Boxer rebellion; wars against France, Japan, and Russia; Japanese invasion;
and a civilian war that ended up with the victory of the communist party and the escape of the nationalists
(the Kuomintang party) to Taiwan.
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In the aftermath of this civilian war, Mao Zedong declared that it was the end of the century of humiliation.

By picking up this resentment, Xi Jinping declared, in 2012, that he wanted to achieve the two centennial
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goals: build a prosperous society for the 100 anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party in 2021 and,
more importantly, have a “fully developed, rich, and powerful” nation for the 100 anniversary of the
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People’s Republic in 2049. Xi Jinping is on his way to become the second most important leader of the
country after the greatest strategist Mao Zedong and to surpass the US in terms of global influence.

The Rise of the Renewed Pax Sinica
On top of its regional aspirations, China wishes to play a greater global leadership role, as seen in the
latest Davos Forum (which Xi Jinping attended for the first time) and the latest Belt and Road Forum
(which 30 world leaders attended).

During the 2017 G20 meeting in Hamburg, Xi Jinping introduced the concept of “the China Solution” ,
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which he described as the support of “the common development of all countries, not just China’s own

sphere of influence. It is meant to build not China’s own backyard garden, but a garden shared by all
countries” . This “China Solution” is represented by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), or the revival of
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the Silk Road, composed of mainly two corridors going from China to Europe: one by land through Central
Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East, and the other by sea through the South China Sea, Bay of Bengal,
and Red Sea.

In total, it will cover 65 countries, 60% of the world’s population, and will improve trade, finance, and
infrastructures . It is in accordance with the shift to a model based on high-value industries, services, and
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domestic consumption for a country that wants to ensure its imports and exports . China is slowly trying
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to establish military bases along the waterways from China to Europe; in Djibouti to protect the Bab-al-

4 CHALIAND Gérard & RAGEAU Jean-Pierre. “Asie hindouisée – Asie sinisée”, in Géopolitique des empires. Flammarion, Champs essais, 2015, p. 74
5 GRAHAM Alison. “What Xi Jinping Wants”, The Atlantic, May 31, 2017
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/05/what-china-wants/528561/
6 EDWARDS Will. “The 'China Solution': Beijing Aims for Global Leadership”, The Cipher Brief, May 2, 2017
https://www.thecipherbrief.com/article/asia/china-solution-beijing-aims-global-leadership-1095
7 EDWARDS Will. “The 'China Solution': Beijing Aims for Global Leadership”, The Cipher Brief, May 2, 2017
https://www.thecipherbrief.com/article/asia/china-solution-beijing-aims-global-leadership-1095
8 HILLMAN Jonathan. “Belt and Road Summit: Beijing’s Push on Trade”, The Cipher Brief, May 2, 2017
https://www.thecipherbrief.com/article/asia/belt-and-road-summit-beijings-push-trade-1095
9 Stratfor. “China Paves the Way for a New Silk Road”, The Cipher Brief, May 15, 2017
https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/china-paves-way-new-silk-road

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