China’s Foreign Policy and Confucianism: A Pathway to Avoid Thucydides Trap in the 21st Century’s Emerging Multipolar World

The Thucydides Trap, which frames conflict as inevitable between rising and established powers, has become a dominant Western political discourse on China’s ascent. This study argues that such a deterministic framework, rooted in a bipolar worldview and does not adequately analyze the dynamics of the emerging 21st-century multipolar order. Drawing on Confucian philosophy, which emphasizes harmony, relationality, and moral leadership, this research demonstrates how China’s foreign policy, economic interdependence initiatives, multilateral engagements, and conflict-resolution strategies offer a pragmatic approach grounded in cooperation, mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. China operationalizes Confucian wisdom into its foreign policy and global governance by promoting stability and constructive collaboration. This research contributes to comparative studies on multipolarity, non-Western strategic thought, and China’s potential to shape a harmonious and inclusive multipolar world order.