China: between positioning and global re-signification, Xi Jinping’s role

Abstract

This document argues a stage is ending and a new one beginning regarding China's foreign policy. This is generating an adjustment of China's position in the International System, which has involved replacing the re-positioning process initiated by Den Xiaoping by a re-signification process developed by Xi Jinping. Thus, from an institutionalist-realistic perspective, the article postulates the end of China's rise and the establishment of a consolidation process that has demanded, when it comes to its foreign policy, a re-signification process for decision-making in the international system. The implementation of this new stage has demanded that China controls the tension between cooperation and hegemony, the main issue being the projection of duality - enthusiasm-fear - it generates and reflects in its bilateral relations.