gānshè nèizhèng: 干涉内政 - To Interfere in Internal Affairs

• Keywords: ganshe neizheng, 干涉内政, interfere in internal affairs, Chinese foreign policy, sovereignty, non-interference, meddling in politics, China diplomacy, foreign relations.
• Summary: 干涉内政 (gānshè nèizhèng) is a crucial Chinese political term meaning “to interfere in internal affairs.” Far more than a simple phrase, it represents a cornerstone of China's foreign policy and its staunch defense of national sovereignty. You will frequently hear ganshe neizheng in official government statements and news reports, especially as a protest against actions by other countries concerning issues like Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Xinjiang. This page explains what 干涉内政 means, its deep cultural and historical significance, and how it is used in the high-stakes world of international diplomacy.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gānshè nèizhèng
• Part of Speech: Verb Phrase
• HSK Level: N/A (Specialized Political Term)
• Concise Definition: To interfere in or meddle with another sovereign nation's domestic affairs.
• In a Nutshell: “Gānshè nèizhèng” is the formal, diplomatic way of saying “stop meddling in our country's business.” It's a very serious accusation used almost exclusively in international relations. When a Chinese official uses this phrase, they are lodging a strong protest against another country or organization, accusing them of violating a fundamental principle of international law: national sovereignty. Think of it as drawing a hard line in the sand.

• 干 (gān): To interfere, to intervene, to be concerned with.
• 涉 (shè): To involve, to touch upon, to wade into. The character has a water radical (氵), invoking the image of stepping into a situation.
• 内 (nèi): Inside, internal, domestic.
• 政 (zhèng): Government, politics, administration.

The characters combine logically: `干涉 (gānshè)` is a set word for “to interfere,” and `内政 (nèizhèng)` is a set word for “internal affairs” or “domestic politics.” Put together, `干涉内政` is a direct and powerful statement: “interfering in internal politics.”

The phrase 干涉内政 (gānshè nèizhèng) is not just political jargon; it is deeply rooted in modern Chinese history and national identity. Its importance stems from the “Century of Humiliation” (百年国耻, bǎinián guóchǐ) from the mid-19th to mid-20th century, when China was forced into unequal treaties and its sovereignty was repeatedly violated by foreign powers. As a result, the principle of non-interference is a pillar of China's foreign policy, enshrined in the “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence” (和平共处五项原则). It is a declaration of strength and a vow to never again let foreign powers dictate its domestic course. Comparison to Western Concepts: This principle often clashes with the Western concept of “humanitarian intervention” or the “Responsibility to Protect (R2P).” Western governments may justify commenting on or sanctioning a country over human rights issues by appealing to universal values. From the official Chinese perspective, however, these actions are often framed as gānshè nèizhèng—an illegitimate attempt to impose one country's values on another and violate its sovereignty. Understanding this term is key to understanding the fundamental differences in how China and many Western nations view international relations.

This term has a very specific and formal application.

• Diplomatic Protests: This is its most common use. You will hear it constantly from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson in response to foreign statements or laws concerning Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet, or China's human rights record.
• State Media: Official media outlets like Xinhua, People's Daily, and CGTN use this phrase to editorialize and condemn the actions of other nations.
• Connotation: It is always negative, formal, and accusatory. It carries a heavy weight and is never used lightly.
• Never for Personal Matters: You would never use this to describe personal situations. Telling a friend to stop meddling in your love life using this phrase would sound absurd and overly dramatic. (See “Nuances and Common Mistakes” below).

• Example 1:
  • 我们坚决反对任何国家以任何借口干涉内政。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen jiānjué fǎnduì rènhé guójiā yǐ rènhé jièkǒu gānshè nèizhèng.
  • English: We firmly oppose any country interfering in internal affairs under any pretext.
  • Analysis: A classic, boilerplate diplomatic statement. `坚决反对 (jiānjué fǎnduì)` means “to firmly oppose,” reinforcing the seriousness.
• Example 2:
  • 他们的行为是对我国主权的粗暴干涉和对内政的公然挑战。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de xíngwéi shì duì wǒguó zhǔquán de cūbào gānshè hé duì nèizhèng de gōngrán tiǎozhàn.
  • English: Their actions are a crude interference in our country's sovereignty and a blatant challenge to our internal affairs.
  • Analysis: Here, the phrase is split to create a more forceful sentence. `粗暴 (cūbào)` means “crude” or “brutal,” escalating the accusation.
• Example 3:
  • 互不干涉内政是两国关系健康发展的基础。
  • Pinyin: Hù bù gānshè nèizhèng shì liǎng guó guānxì jiànkāng fāzhǎn de jīchǔ.
  • English: Mutual non-interference in internal affairs is the foundation for the healthy development of relations between the two countries.
  • Analysis: This shows the principle in a more positive light. `互不 (hù bù)` means “mutually not,” highlighting it as a reciprocal agreement.
• Example 4:
  • 外交部发言人警告某些国家立刻停止干涉内政。
  • Pinyin: Wàijiāobù fāyánrén jǐnggào mǒuxiē guójiā lìkè tíngzhǐ gānshè nèizhèng.
  • English: The Foreign Ministry spokesperson warned certain countries to immediately stop interfering in internal affairs.
  • Analysis: A common sentence structure you'd see in a news report. `警告 (jǐnggào)` is a strong “warning.”
• Example 5:
  • 任何形式的干涉内政都是不可接受的。
  • Pinyin: Rènhé xíngshì de gānshè nèizhèng dōu shì bùkě jiēshòu de.
  • English: Any form of interference in internal affairs is unacceptable.
  • Analysis: Here, `干涉内政` functions as a noun phrase (“the act of interference”).
• Example 6:
  • 中国一贯奉行不干涉内政的原则。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó yíguàn fèngxíng bù gānshè nèizhèng de yuánzé.
  • English: China has always followed the principle of non-interference in internal affairs.
  • Analysis: `一贯奉行 (yíguàn fèngxíng)` means “to consistently pursue/follow,” emphasizing this as a long-standing policy.
• Example 7:
  • 这个问题纯属中国内政，不容许任何外部干涉。
  • Pinyin: Zhèige wèntí chúnshǔ Zhōngguó nèizhèng, bù róngxǔ rènhé wàibù gānshè.
  • English: This issue is purely China's internal affair and allows for no external interference.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the two components, `内政` and `干涉`, separately but to express the same core idea. `纯属 (chúnshǔ)` means “purely belongs to.”
• Example 8:
  • 该法案被视为对别国内政的干涉。
  • Pinyin: Gāi fǎ'àn bèi shìwéi duì biéguó nèizhèng de gānshè.
  • English: The bill was seen as an interference in another country's internal affairs.
  • Analysis: This passive structure (`被视为… bèi shìwéi`) is common in formal writing and news, meaning “is regarded as” or “is seen as.”
• Example 9:
  • 他们指责我方干涉内政，这完全是无中生有。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen zhǐzé wǒ fāng gānshè nèizhèng, zhè wánquán shì wúzhōngshēngyǒu.
  • English: They accused our side of interfering in their internal affairs; this is a complete fabrication.
  • Analysis: Shows how to deny the accusation. `无中生有 (wúzhōngshēngyǒu)` is a great idiom meaning “to create something from nothing” or “to fabricate.”
• Example 10:
  • 历史证明，干涉内政只会导致混乱和不稳定。
  • Pinyin: Lìshǐ zhèngmíng, gānshè nèizhèng zhǐ huì dǎozhì hùnluàn hé bù wěndìng.
  • English: History has proven that interfering in internal affairs only leads to chaos and instability.
  • Analysis: A broad, philosophical statement used to justify the principle of non-interference.

The most common mistake for learners is misjudging the term's formality and scope.

• Mistake: Using it for personal matters.
• Incorrect: `我父母总是干涉内政，管我跟谁约会。` (Wǒ fùmǔ zǒngshì gānshè nèizhèng, guǎn wǒ gēn shéi yuēhuì.)
• Why it's wrong: This is like using “violating national sovereignty” to describe your parents checking your report card. It's grammatically correct but contextually absurd. The term is reserved for state-level politics.
• Correct informal equivalent: `我父母总是多管闲事。` (Wǒ fùmǔ zǒngshì duō guǎn xiánshì.) - “My parents are always being busybodies.” Or more simply: `他们管得太多了！` (Tāmen guǎn de tài duō le!) - “They meddle too much!”
• False Friend: “To interfere”

In English, “interference” can be mild (“static interference on the radio”) or personal (“parental interference”). 干涉内政 is only used for the serious, political act of a state meddling in another state's business. For other types of “interference,” you need different words, like `干扰 (gānrǎo)` for disruptions or `干预 (gānyù)` for intervention in a more general sense.

• `主权 (zhǔquán)` - Sovereignty. The core concept that non-interference is designed to protect.
• `互不干涉内政 (hù bù gānshè nèizhèng)` - Mutual non-interference in internal affairs. The full name of the principle, often used in treaties.
• `霸权主义 (bàquán zhǔyì)` - Hegemonism. The practice of powerful countries dominating weaker ones, which often includes `干涉内政`.
• `独立自主 (dúlì zìzhǔ)` - Independence and self-determination. The political goal that non-interference helps a nation to maintain.
• `百年国耻 (bǎinián guóchǐ)` - The Century of Humiliation. The key historical context that explains why protecting sovereignty is so vital in China.
• `多管闲事 (duō guǎn xiánshì)` - To be a busybody. This is the informal, personal equivalent of meddling in affairs that are not your concern.
• `内政 (nèizhèng)` - Internal Affairs. The second half of the term, referring to all domestic matters of a country.
• `外交 (wàijiāo)` - Diplomacy / Foreign Affairs. The field where `干涉内政` is a primary concept.