On March 7, Wang Yi was answering questions from reporters. Photo by Beijing News reporter Xue Jun.
The Second Session of the 14th National People's Congress held a press conference at 10 a.m. on March 7. Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China and head of the Communist Party of China, attended the press conference and answered questions from China and abroad. Wang Yi said that world multipolarization and economic globalization are the general trend of the development of human society, but all parties do not agree on what kind of multipolarization and globalization are needed. China's position is that an equal and orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization should be realized.
Wang Yi said that the multipolarization of equality is to embody the equality of rights, opportunities, and rules of all countries, and that it is no longer possible for a few major countries or a small number of big countries to monopolize international affairs, and it is no longer allowed to divide countries into three, six, nine, and so on on the basis of the so-called position of strength, and it is no longer allowed to have the final say on whoever has the biggest fist, still less can some countries be allowed to be on the dinner table and some countries can only be on the menu. It is necessary to ensure that all countries, big or small, strong or weak, can participate on an equal footing, enjoy their rights and play a role in the process of multipolarization.
These remarks clearly demonstrate China's resolute opposition to the "table menu theory". On February 17, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said of U.S.-China relations at the 60th Munich Security Conference, "In the international system, if you're not sitting at the table, you're on the menu." As soon as the "table menu theory" was thrown out, it triggered various interpretations. Some people say that this is a straightforward statement of the law of the jungle in international politics, some people say that it is a description of the multi-party game situation in the international system, and some people think that it is just a non-rigorous statement of improvisation.
In fact, this is not the first time that the US has used the "table menu theory" as a metaphor for the international system. Going aside, on the eve of the opening of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Blinken explained the relationship between China and the United States, saying that measures should be taken to effectively and comprehensively deal with China "to ensure that the United States is and will be sitting at the table, not on the menu."
It can be seen from this that the "table menu theory" contains the real considerations of some US politicians on international politics. It implies that power politics and the law of the jungle are the common laws of international politics, and international relations under the pattern of great power games are exclusive zero-sum games, and if countries do not choose sides, they will be eaten by the powerful at the table.
Such considerations are undoubtedly dangerous. On the one hand, the "table menu theory" challenges the basic norms of contemporary international relations with the Charter of the United Nations as the cornerstone. The Charter of the United Nations stipulates that all Members of the United Nations are equal, respect each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence, oppose the use of force or the threat of force to settle disputes between them, and advocate the settlement of disputes through dialogue and negotiation. This is an important principle established by the international community after the scourge of war. If the size of the fist becomes the norm, there will be no way to talk about equality for all countries, regardless of size.
On the other hand, the "table menu theory" presupposes the "hostile thinking" of potential competitors. To simply reduce normal competition between countries to confrontation, ignore the existence of common interests, and regard global governance as the private property of "none other than me" is in fact a disguised expression of the Cold War mentality.
In today's international community, geopolitical conflicts are continuous, the industrial chain is facing the test of reorganization, and signs of international scientific and technological cooperation being blocked by diversion are looming, and there are enough uncertainties. The more turbulent the international system becomes, the more necessary it is to recognize the dangers of the "table menu theory". Wang Yi's four "can no longer be allowed" in response to the "table menu theory" are powerful countermeasures.
The "table menu theory" can no longer be allowed to proliferate, and it is necessary to put forward its own ideas. China's proposal to achieve an equal, orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization is a constructive solution to the turbulent international situation.
Generally speaking, the equality of rights, opportunities and rules of all countries has put a firewall on the basic principle of international relations based on sovereign equality. The fact that all countries can participate on an equal footing, enjoy their rights, and play a role in the process of multipolarization is a powerful correction to the "pseudo-multilateralism" of "small courtyards and high walls" and bloc confrontation.
The law of the jungle cannot replace the demands of equality and development, the multi-party game cannot replace win-win cooperation, and unilateralistic globalization cannot bring economic prosperity, which is the biggest reality of international politics. It can be said that China's constructive proposal for the "table menu theory" is not only to safeguard its own interests, but also to safeguard the interests of the majority of members of the international community.
It is precisely for this reason that it is necessary for the international community to continue to raise its voice against the "table menu theory". The international system is not a dining table, and global governance is not the exclusive right of individual countries or groups. Only by upholding the concept of mutual equality, common development and shared peace can the international community get out of the current security dilemma and development bottlenecks and move towards common prosperity.
Written by Xu Lifan (columnist).
Edited by Bruce Ma.
Proofreading by Li Lijun.