Strategy and Diplomacy in a Changing World: China’s High-Level Strategic Dialogue with its European Counterparts (2001-2024)

The evolving relationship between China and the Liberal International Order (LIO) have sparked significant debate in International Relations (IR) over the past two decades. As a major proponent of democracy and the LIO, Europe plays a crucial role in China’s foreign policy ambitions. The High-Level Strategic Dialogue (SD), a key mechanism in advancing China’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with European counterparts, facilitates simultaneous engagement with both national and supranational partners, including the UK, France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Portugal, and the EU. The importance of the SD is manifested in joint statements and official documents from both sides. Despite this recognition, a critical question persists: How does China leverage the SD mechanism to achieve its foreign policy objectives within Europe? Addressing this question is central to understanding China’s evolving role within the LIO and its strategies for reshaping global governance and the balance of power in the international system. It also contributes to the broader debate on whether China represents a status quo state or a revisionist power. This paper argues that forum-shopping - strategically selecting and managing different diplomatic platforms - enables China to effectively employ alter-casting[ According to Weinstein and Deutschberger, “alter-casting” refers to “projecting an identity, to be assumed by other(s) with whom one is in interaction, which is congruent with one’s own goals”, or “casting alter into a particular identity or role type” (Thies, 2016). ] within the SD framework. By projecting specific roles and identities onto its European counterparts, China maximizes its influence and promotes a global order that leans toward Westphalian principles of sovereignty and non-intervention[ This is drawing on Weiss and Wallace’s (2021) argument that China’s influence on the LIO is transitioning towards a more Westphalian direction, while maintaining support for the principles enshrined in the UN Charter.]. The paper distinguishes between two dialogue venues: SD1, which involves China and the EU as a collective entity, and SD2, which encompasses China’s interactions with individual European countries of interest (ECOI). It contends that while SD1 serves as China’s primary platform for advancing its vision of a multi-polar world, SD2 complements this by allowing China to further its bilateral strategic interests with key European partners. By analyzing China’s forum-shopping strategies and alter-casting techniques across SD1 and SD2, this study demonstrates how China systematically leverages these platforms to strengthen its strategic partnerships, challenge existing power structures, and promote a multi-polar world order. It highlights the implications of these tactics for China’s foreign policy objectives and the future of global governance. Keywords: High-Level Strategic Dialogue (SD), Forum-Shopping, Foreign Policy Objectives, Alter-Casting, Westphalian Orientation