Diplomacy and cooperation of the People's Republic of China in the "Year We Lived in Danger"

Abstract

The world finds itself in a dangerous dilemma. The reactivation of neo-protectionist policies under Donald Trump's new administration (2025-2029) and the use of tariffs as negotiating tools have generated instability in the global economy. Pierre Oliver Gourinchas, chief economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), stated that a trade war would generate major imbalances and reconfirm the global economic system built eight decades ago at Bretton Woods (Jiménez, 2025).

Added to this is the political turbulence exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the complex scenarios for reaching a peace agreement. Tensions are increasing in all regions of the world: from Gaza to Kashmir, under the shadow of hegemonic change and the rise of new actors claiming prominence in a global landscape with grayish hues, in which the People's Republic of China (PRC) is undoubtedly a key player.