What drives Xi's foreign policy?

Three, China has three categories of sacrosanct "core interests"-its political system, continuing economic development, and national sovereignty (territorial integrity)-and China's foreign policy is designed to protect each of them.

Four, crises can be more disruptive than ever before political instability, sectarian violence, terrorism, pandemics, financial contagion, natural disasters, trade disputes-and some can erupt suddenly. China's pro-active diplomacy enhances mechanisms for managing crises, which can avert or temper such global crises.

Five, China like all nations has interests that conflict with those of other nations (e.g., South China Sea, cybersecurity, currency, balance of trade). Should incidents of one kind or another occur-which, given the complexity of the world, seems inevitable-the more China interacts actively with other countries the better it will be able to contain such incidents.

Six, as the world's second largest economy, China is a new global leader and therefore shoulders new global responsibilities. World peace and prosperity do not happen by chance, and there are forces, accidental and deliberate, that can be disruptive. The world needs bulwarks of stability and China is taking on more of these burdens.

Seven, China does not seek to export its political system and it promulgates the virtue that each country should determine its own system of governance and style of development. Nonetheless, China's remarkable economic success can be an example that other developing countries can study and apply. To lead by example is a high-minded strategy that enhances China's credibility.

Eight, China is rightly proud of its 5,000-year civilization as well as its recent economic miracle, and it is natural that China would be pleased for other nations and peoples to appreciate the country's accomplishments. Considered in light of China's 150 years of oppression and degradation, China's pride in its increasing diplomatic respect is understandable.

There is nothing short-term about the drivers of President Xi's foreign policy. As China continues to progress, these drivers continue to develop.

The author is a public intellectual, political/economics commentator, and international corporate strategist.