Our Country’s Political Structure and Its Participation in International Affairs

Hello everyone! Welcome to your study notes for this exciting chapter. We're going to explore two big ideas: first, how our country, China, is organised and governed, and second, how it works and cooperates with other countries around the world.

Why is this important? Because understanding how our country runs helps us understand our role as citizens. And learning about its place in the world shows us how we are all connected. Don't worry if these topics sound big and complicated, we'll break them down into simple, easy-to-understand parts!


Part 1: Our Country's Political Structure – The Inside Story

Think of a country's political structure as the "operating system" or the "rules of the game" that explains how it is run. For our country, the most important rulebook is the Constitution.

The Ultimate Rulebook: The Constitution

Every country has a main set of laws that guides everything else, and for China, this is the Constitution. It's the highest law of the land.

Imagine you're playing a board game. The Constitution is the main instruction booklet that everyone, including the government, must follow. All other rules and laws must agree with what's in this booklet.

The Main Players: Central State Institutions

The Constitution sets up several important groups, or "central state institutions", that run the country. Think of them like the different management teams in a very big school, each with a special job.

The National People's Congress (NPC)

This is the highest state institution. It has the most power.

  • What it is: The top law-making body in China.
  • What it does: Makes and changes laws, elects top leaders (like the President), and makes decisions on the country's most important issues.
  • Analogy: The NPC is like a giant school-wide student council where representatives from all classes meet to make the most important rules for the school.
  • NPC Standing Committee: Because the full NPC has thousands of members and can't meet all the time, this is a smaller group that handles law-making and other duties when the full NPC is not in session.
The President of the People's Republic of China

This is the head of state, representing our country both at home and to the rest of the world.

  • What they do: Promulgate laws passed by the NPC, appoint top officials like the Premier, and represent China in foreign affairs.
  • Analogy: The President is like the School Principal. They are the official face of the school and have very important representative duties.
The State Council

This is the central government, responsible for carrying out the laws and running the country day-to-day.

  • What it is: The main "doing" part of the government, led by the Premier.
  • What it does: Manages the economy, education, science, public health, and everything else needed for society to function.
  • Analogy: The State Council is like the school's main office. They handle the daily timetable, manage the school budget, and make sure teachers and students have what they need to learn.
Other Key Institutions
  • The Central Military Commission: This body is in charge of the country's armed forces. Its main job is national defence and security.
  • The National Commission of Supervision: This is the "watchdog". Its job is to make sure government workers are doing their jobs properly and honestly, and to fight corruption.
  • The Supreme People's Court & The Supreme People's Procuratorate: These are the highest judicial bodies. The Court is the final judge in legal cases, and the Procuratorate acts as the top prosecutor. They are like the final referees in a game, ensuring justice is served according to the law.

The Leadership System

The Constitution also explains the leadership system of our country.

  • The Leadership Role of the Communist Party of China (CPC): The CPC is the leading political party in China.
  • System of Multiparty Cooperation and Political Consultation: This means that while the CPC is the leading party, other political parties also exist. They work together with the CPC, giving advice and suggestions on how to govern the country. It's like a team where there is one captain (the CPC), but the captain listens to ideas and feedback from all the other team members before making a decision.
Key Takeaway for Part 1

Our country is governed according to the Constitution. The main power lies with the National People's Congress (NPC), which makes laws. The State Council carries out these laws and manages daily affairs. Other institutions have special roles like national defence and justice. This whole system operates under the leadership of the CPC, which cooperates with other parties.


Part 2: Our Country on the World Stage – International Affairs

Now, let's look at how our country interacts with the rest of the world. This is all about making friends, trading, and working together to solve global problems.

Friendship Rules: China's Foreign Policy

A country's "foreign policy" is its plan for how it will behave and interact with other countries. China's foreign policy is based on several important principles.

  • Independent Foreign Policy: China makes its own decisions about its relationships with other countries.
  • Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence: These are the core rules for making friends with other nations. Think of them as rules for being a good neighbour:
    1. Respect each other's territory.
    2. Don't attack each other.
    3. Don't interfere in each other's internal business.
    4. Treat each other as equals and with fairness.
    5. Live together in peace.
  • Promoting a community with a shared future for humankind: This is a big idea that says all countries are in the same boat. We should all work together to build a better, safer, and more prosperous world for everyone.

Case Study: The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

The Belt and Road Initiative is a perfect example of China's foreign policy in action. It's a massive development project to connect Asia with Africa and Europe.

Analogy: Think of the ancient Silk Road, where traders travelled long distances to exchange goods and ideas. The BRI is like a modern-day "Super Silk Road," with new railways, roads, ports, and other connections to make it easier for countries to trade and cooperate.

  • Opportunities: The BRI helps everyone involved by promoting trade, creating jobs, and encouraging shared economic growth.
  • Challenges: Projects this big are very complex and require a lot of trust and cooperation between many different countries.
Did you know?

The "Belt" in the Belt and Road Initiative refers to the overland routes, called the "Silk Road Economic Belt". The "Road" refers to the sea routes, called the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road".

How the BRI Relates to National Security

Participating in international affairs like the BRI also helps protect our country's national security.

  • Resource Security: Many important resources, like oil, are transported by sea. The "Belt" part of the BRI creates more land-based transport routes. This is important because it means the country doesn't have to rely only on sea routes. It's like having a backup road to your home in case the main road is blocked!
  • Military and Overseas Interests Security: China needs to protect its citizens and trade ships around the world. For example, the Chinese navy carries out escort missions in dangerous waters like the Gulf of Aden to protect ships from pirates. This shows how China plays a role in keeping the world's sea routes safe, protecting its people and trade, and fulfilling its duties as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Quick Review: Main Ideas of BRI

Goal: Promote common development and peace.
Method: Building connections (policy, infrastructure, trade, finance, people-to-people bonds).
Spirit: Peace, cooperation, openness, and mutual benefit.

Key Takeaway for Part 2

Our country engages with the world based on principles of peaceful coexistence and cooperation. Through major projects like the Belt and Road Initiative, it builds connections for shared development. This active participation in global affairs not only contributes to the world but also helps safeguard our own national security (like protecting resources and overseas interests).