China’s National Security Strategy Doctrine: An In-Depth Examination

CSGEF Research Unit

July 22, 2025

The end of the Cold War ensued a unipolar world with the United States as the sole superpower. The US's unipolar world post-Cold War is being challenged by China's rapid economic rise and its belief that its military might should match its economic might. This power tussle, primarily in the economic domain, could escalate into the military domain if miscalculations occur. Understanding these competing powers' security doctrines is crucial for anticipating global dynamics. In this context, this paper takes an in-depth examination of China’s National Security Strategy Doctrine. This paper, titled 'China’s National Security Strategy Doctrine: An In-Depth Examination,' is part of the National Security Strategy Doctrine Review series. The CSGEF Research Unit utilized the CSGEF Lite NSS Audit framework for this paper. This framework is designed to assess a country's National Security Strategy (NSS) Doctrine within the broader context of global power dynamics.

Summary :

The end of the Cold War resulted in a unipolar world with the United States as the sole superpower. However, the pace of the growth of the comprehensive power of China appears to be changing that status quo. Moreover, the nature of interdependence that these two major powers share has implications on the peace and tranquillity of the world, warranting scrutiny of the growth and trajectory of these two major powers and the nature of their relationship. Since the National Security Strategy (NSS) doctrines of these countries are key to understanding this power dynamic, it is important to have a comprehensive study of this factor. Within that broad context, this paper delves into the National Security Strategy (NSS) Doctrine of China.
The objective of this analysis is to highlight strengths and potential pitfalls of respective national security strategies for a comprehensive understanding of how these influential nations, such as China and the United States, sail across the complex web of international relations. Such understanding is necessary for inspiring informed actions, recalibrating, or at least understanding the implications of such strategies.

The methodology of this analysis includes the assessment of China’s NSS Doctrine as reflected in its official documents, diplomatic practices, military engagements, and economic policies. This approach promises deep insights into global power dynamics, especially pertaining to China and the United States. For a comprehensive understanding of China’s security strategy, the paper also reviews existing analyses of China’s National Security Strategy Doctrine as produced by leading experts, think tanks, research institutions, and reputable organizations.

The paper is structured into five sections and an appendix is provided at the end. The first section documents the sources of China’s National Security Strategy Doctrine. The second section presents a sketch of the current geopolitical landscape and positions China within that landscape. The third section traces the evolution of China’s NSS Doctrine. The fourth section presents a comprehensive review of China’s NSS Doctrine as produced by other scholars, academics, and institutions. The fifth section presents the CSGEF audit of China’s National Security Strategy doctrine.