Psychology as a system component: the deterrence logic of communication in China

The article investigates how China uses two distinct communication strategies: peace-focused language with positive gestures and assertive speech promising retaliation. It challenges the typical view that the first approach indicates status quo orientation and the second suggests aggressive change. Instead, the study suggests that China’s peaceful rhetoric is used to undermine Western international norms, subtly promoting gradual change. In contrast, its bold language is more about maintaining face and reputation. The study employs systems theory to understand the psychological patterns that guide China’s use of these opposing strategies. Additionally, the article links China’s foreign policy actions to broader theories of international relations behavior, contributing to discussions about the interplay between individual agents and larger structures.