bùgānshèzhǔyì: 不干涉主义 - Non-interventionism, Non-interference

• Keywords: 不干涉主义, bùgānshèzhǔyì, non-interventionism, non-interference principle, Chinese foreign policy, sovereignty, internal affairs, Chinese diplomacy, Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
• Summary: “不干涉主义 (bùgānshèzhǔyì)” is the principle of non-interventionism, a cornerstone of Chinese foreign policy. It refers to the strict policy of not interfering in the internal affairs of other sovereign nations and expecting the same in return. This concept is fundamental to understanding China's diplomatic language and its perspective on international relations and national sovereignty.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bù gān shè zhǔ yì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: The principle or policy of not interfering in the domestic affairs of other countries; non-interventionism.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine the international community is a neighborhood. “不干涉主义 (bùgānshèzhǔyì)” is China's official policy of “minding its own business.” It means a country should not meddle in how another country governs itself, what laws it makes, or how it handles its domestic problems. It's a formal, political term that emphasizes mutual respect for national borders and self-governance.

• 不 (bù): A negative prefix, simply meaning “no” or “not.”
• 干 (gān): In this context, it means “to get involved with” or “to be concerned with.” It's part of the word `干涉`.
• 涉 (shè): To “wade across a river” or “to involve.” It implies getting into something complex or potentially messy.
• 主 (zhǔ): Means “main,” “principal,” or “master.”
• 义 (yì): Means “principle,” “meaning,” or “justice.”

The characters combine logically: `干涉 (gānshè)` is a set word for “to interfere” or “to intervene.” The suffix `主义 (zhǔyì)` is the standard way to form “-ism” in Chinese (e.g., `资本主义 zīběn zhǔyì` for capitalism). Therefore, `不 (bù)` + `干涉 (gānshè)` + `主义 (zhǔyì)` literally translates to “Not-Interfere-Ism,” or non-interventionism.

The concept of 不干涉主义 is more than just a political slogan in China; it's a principle forged from painful historical experience. For much of the 19th and early 20th centuries, a period known in China as the “Century of Humiliation” (百年国耻 bǎinián guóchǐ), foreign powers repeatedly interfered in China's internal affairs, carving up territory and imposing unequal treaties. This history created a deep-seated national sensitivity towards any form of external meddling. A useful comparison is with the American concept of “American Exceptionalism.” While not a direct opposite, they represent fundamentally different worldviews. “Exceptionalism” can sometimes be used to justify intervention abroad to promote values like democracy or human rights. In contrast, 不干涉主义 argues that each nation's system is its own business, and no country has the right to impose its values on another, regardless of its intentions. This principle is a key pillar of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (和平共处五项原则), first articulated by Premier Zhou Enlai in the 1950s. These principles (mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence) form the bedrock of China's foreign policy.

不干涉主义 is a formal and official term. You will almost never hear it in casual, everyday conversation.

• Diplomacy and Government: This is its primary domain. It is used constantly in statements by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in speeches by national leaders at international forums like the United Nations, and in official government documents. When China responds to foreign criticism about issues like Hong Kong, Xinjiang, or Taiwan, it will invariably invoke the principle of non-interference.
• State Media: News outlets like Xinhua, People's Daily, and CCTV frequently use this term when reporting on international relations, especially when framing China's actions as principled and defensive, or when criticizing other nations (particularly the U.S.) for “hegemonism” or “meddling.”

The connotation of 不干涉主义 within China is overwhelmingly positive. It is presented as a just, fair, and responsible approach to international relations that respects all nations equally, in contrast to the perceived interventionism of Western powers.

• Example 1:
  • 中国奉行不干涉主义的外交政策。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó fèngxíng bùgānshèzhǔyì de wàijiāo zhèngcè.
  • English: China pursues a foreign policy of non-interventionism.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, textbook sentence stating China's official policy. `奉行 (fèngxíng)` is a formal verb for “to pursue” or “to follow” a policy.
• Example 2:
  • 我们坚决反对任何国家干涉别国内政，并始终坚持不干涉主义原则。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen jiānjué fǎnduì rènhé guójiā gānshè biéguó nèizhèng, bìng shǐzhōng jiānchí bùgānshèzhǔyì yuánzé.
  • English: We firmly oppose any country interfering in another's internal affairs and always adhere to the principle of non-interventionism.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the term used in a strong, declarative statement. `坚决反对 (jiānjué fǎnduì)` means “to firmly oppose.” `原则 (yuánzé)` means “principle.”
• Example 3:
  • 不干涉主义是和平共处五项原则的重要组成部分。
  • Pinyin: Bùgānshèzhǔyì shì Hépíng Gòngchǔ Wǔ Xiàng Yuánzé de zhòngyào zǔchéng bùfèn.
  • English: Non-interventionism is an important component of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
  • Analysis: This directly links the term to its parent policy framework, providing crucial context for understanding its origins.
• Example 4:
  • 一些西方国家被批评违背了不干涉主义，对他国事务指手画脚。
  • Pinyin: Yīxiē xīfāng guójiā bèi pīpíng wéibèi le bùgānshèzhǔyì, duì tāguó shìwù zhǐshǒuhuàjiǎo.
  • English: Some Western countries are criticized for violating non-interventionism and being bossy about other countries' affairs.
  • Analysis: `指手画脚 (zhǐshǒuhuàjiǎo)` is a great idiom meaning “to make critical gestures” or “to boss someone around,” vividly painting a picture of unwanted interference.
• Example 5:
  • 该国的宪法明确规定了其对不干涉主义的承诺。
  • Pinyin: Gāi guó de xiànfǎ míngquè guīdìng le qí duì bùgānshèzhǔyì de chéngnuò.
  • English: That country's constitution clearly stipulates its commitment to non-interventionism.
  • Analysis: This shows the term used in a legal or constitutional context. `承诺 (chéngnuò)` means “commitment” or “promise.”
• Example 6:
  • 在联合国大会上，他重申了国家主权和不干涉主义的重要性。
  • Pinyin: Zài Liánhéguó Dàhuì shàng, tā chóngshēn le guójiā zhǔquán hé bùgānshèzhǔyì de zhòngyàoxìng.
  • English: At the UN General Assembly, he reiterated the importance of national sovereignty and non-interventionism.
  • Analysis: This places the term in a common setting for its use: high-level international diplomacy. `重申 (chóngshēn)` means “to reiterate.”
• Example 7:
  • 历史证明，干涉主义只会带来混乱，而不干涉主义才能促进稳定。
  • Pinyin: Lìshǐ zhèngmíng, gānshèzhǔyì zhǐ huì dàilái hùnluàn, ér bùgānshèzhǔyì cáinéng cùjìn wěndìng.
  • English: History proves that interventionism only brings chaos, while non-interventionism can promote stability.
  • Analysis: This sentence sets up a direct contrast between interventionism (`干涉主义`) and non-interventionism (`不干涉主义`).
• Example 8:
  • 维护国家主权是不干涉主义的核心。
  • Pinyin: Wéihù guójiā zhǔquán shì bùgānshèzhǔyì de héxīn.
  • English: Protecting national sovereignty is the core of non-interventionism.
  • Analysis: A simple, clear sentence that defines the central goal of the policy. `核心 (héxīn)` means “core” or “nucleus.”
• Example 9:
  • 面对复杂的国际局势，坚持不干涉主义对发展中国家尤为重要。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì fùzá de guójì júshì, jiānchí bùgānshèzhǔyì duì fāzhǎnzhōng guójiā yóuwéi zhòngyào.
  • English: Facing a complex international situation, adhering to non-interventionism is particularly important for developing countries.
  • Analysis: This highlights the perceived benefit of the policy for smaller or less powerful nations seeking to protect themselves from the influence of larger powers.
• Example 10:
  • 他们的援助是无条件的，完全基于不干涉主义精神。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de yuánzhù shì wútiáojiàn de, wánquán jīyú bùgānshèzhǔyì jīngshén.
  • English: Their aid is unconditional, based entirely on the spirit of non-interventionism.
  • Analysis: This shows how the principle can be applied to areas like foreign aid, suggesting that assistance is given without political strings attached.

• Don't use it casually: This is the most common mistake. If you want to tell a friend “don't meddle” or “mind your own business,” you should use a colloquial phrase like `别多管闲事 (bié duō guǎn xiánshì)`. Using 不干涉主义 would sound incredibly strange and overly formal, like using “geopolitical statecraft” to describe office politics.
• Non-interventionism vs. Isolationism: Do not confuse 不干涉主义 (bùgānshèzhǔyì) with `孤立主义 (gūlì zhǔyì)`, or isolationism. China is one of the most globally-connected countries in terms of trade, investment, and diplomacy. Non-interventionism is specifically about not interfering in the internal political affairs of other countries, not about avoiding contact with them altogether.
• False Friend: “Laissez-faire”: While both terms have a “hands-off” feeling, “laissez-faire” is an economic doctrine about minimal government interference in the market. 不干涉主义 is a political and diplomatic doctrine about government non-interference in other governments' affairs.

• 内政 (nèizhèng) - Internal affairs. This is the domain that 不干涉主义 insists should not be interfered with.
• 主权 (zhǔquán) - Sovereignty. The core right that 不干涉主义 is designed to protect.
• 和平共处五项原则 (Hépíng Gòngchǔ Wǔ Xiàng Yuánzé) - The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The foundational foreign policy framework where non-interference is a key principle.
• 霸权主义 (bàquán zhǔyì) - Hegemonism. The ideological opposite of 不干涉主义, often used by China to criticize powerful nations that impose their will on others.
• 干涉 (gānshè) - To interfere; to intervene. The root verb within the term.
• 孤立主义 (gūlì zhǔyì) - Isolationism. A separate concept of national self-seclusion, which is different from non-interventionism.
• 互相尊重 (hùxiāng zūnzhòng) - Mutual respect. A value that underpins the principle of non-intervention.