The Resilience of Self-reliance in China

Autonomy, Interdependence and Order-shaping

Bibliographic Data

ID24224608
AuthorsAmy King (0000-0002-9214-5930, Australian National University), Wenting He (0000-0003-2031-1917, Australian National University)
Year2026
Volume266
Pages291-308
Publication date2026-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe China Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0009-4439 • E-ISSN: 1468-2648
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0305741026102276
OpenAlexW7161844665
LanguageEN
References cited29

The idea of “self-reliance” has endured in Chinese political discourse for nearly a century, transcending profound changes in China’s political, economic and strategic circumstances. Although it is frequently misinterpreted as economic isolation or autarky, the idea of self-reliance in China has always acknowledged the country’s engagement with the global economy. Drawing on the discursive institutionalist concept of ideational resilience, we show that self-reliance comprises three interlocking elements: autonomy, interdependence and order-shaping. While these sit in tension with one another, they have also accommodated one another since the earliest articulations of the idea. This tripartite structure has enabled Chinese leaders since the Republican era to reinterpret and usefully deploy the idea of self-reliance. Our findings underscore the resilience of Chinese foreign economic policy ideas, as well as the ideational logic behind Xi Jinping’s seemingly contradictory pursuit of technological self-reliance, open global markets and greater connectivity with the developing world.

Autonomy · Chinese foreign economic policy · Chinese political discourse · global economic integration · Interdependence · Republican-era China · Self reliance · technological self-reliance · Xi Jinping · China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance · COVID-19, Geopolitics, Technology, Migration · International Relations and Foreign Policy