hù bù gānshè nèizhèng: 互不干涉内政 - Non-interference in internal affairs

• Keywords: hù bù gānshè nèizhèng, 互不干涉内政, non-interference in internal affairs, Chinese foreign policy, sovereignty, five principles of peaceful coexistence, Chinese politics, mutual non-interference, China diplomacy.
• Summary: The phrase 互不干涉内政 (hù bù gānshè nèizhèng) is a cornerstone of Chinese foreign policy, meaning “mutual non-interference in internal affairs.” Far more than a simple idiom, it represents a core political principle asserting every nation's absolute sovereignty and right to govern itself without external meddling. For any learner of Chinese, understanding this term is essential to grasping the mindset behind China's official statements and its perspective on international relations.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): hù bù gānshè nèizhèng
• Part of Speech: Phrase / Political Principle
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: The principle of mutually not interfering in each other's domestic politics or internal affairs.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a rule between neighbors: “You don't tell me how to run my house, and I won't tell you how to run yours.” 互不干涉内政 (hù bù gānshè nèizhèng) applies this logic to countries. It's China's fundamental stance in international relations, stating that issues within a country's borders—its government, laws, and social policies—are its own business. This principle is frequently cited by Chinese diplomats to reject criticism from other nations.

• 互 (hù): Mutual, reciprocal, each other. The character pictorially resembles two interlocking pieces, implying reciprocity.
• 不 (bù): No, not. A simple but powerful negation character.
• 干涉 (gānshè): To interfere, to meddle.
  • 干 (gān): Originally meant a shield, but here it's part of a compound meaning “to have concern with” or “to get involved in.”
  • 涉 (shè): To wade, to ford, to involve. It shows “steps” (步) next to “water” (水), meaning to get into something.
• 内 (nèi): Inside, internal, domestic.
• 政 (zhèng): Politics, government, administration. The character combines “correct” (正 zhèng) with a radical (攵) that implies action or force, suggesting the “correct administration” of a state.

When combined, these characters literally translate to: “Mutually (互) not (不) interfere with (干涉) internal (内) politics (政).”

The principle of 互不干涉内政 is not just political jargon; it's deeply rooted in modern Chinese history and national identity. Its importance stems directly 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, had its territory colonized, and saw its sovereignty repeatedly violated by foreign powers. As a result, post-1949 China has placed an absolute premium on protecting its national sovereignty. 互不干涉内政 became one of the “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence” (和平共处五项原则) championed by Premier Zhou Enlai in the 1950s, which form the bedrock of China's foreign policy to this day. Comparison to a Western Concept: While the West also operates on a principle of national sovereignty (often called Westphalian sovereignty), there is a crucial difference in application. Western nations, particularly the United States, have often supported the concept of “humanitarian intervention” or the “Responsibility to Protect,” which allows for interference in a country's internal affairs if human rights abuses are occurring. China, through 互不干涉内政, fundamentally rejects this. It argues that sovereignty is absolute and that using human rights as a pretext for interference is a form of hegemonism (霸权主义, bàquán zhǔyì). For China, economic partnership does not grant another country the right to comment on or try to change its political system.

This term is used almost exclusively in formal and political contexts. You will not hear it in casual, everyday conversation.

• Official Government Statements: This is its most common usage. When a foreign government criticizes China on issues related to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Xinjiang, or Tibet, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will invariably state that these are China's “internal affairs” and that other countries should adhere to the principle of 互不干涉内政.
• State Media: Newspapers like the *People's Daily* (人民日报) and news agencies like Xinhua (新华社) frequently use this phrase in editorials and reports on foreign relations to reinforce the government's position.
• Metaphorical Business/Organizational Use: In a very formal setting, one might use this phrase metaphorically to establish clear boundaries between two companies or departments. For example, a department head might say it to another to mean, “Let's stick to our own responsibilities and not meddle in each other's projects.” This is rare but illustrates the term's core meaning of respecting boundaries.

• Example 1:
  • 中国一贯奉行互不干涉内政的原则。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó yīguàn fèngxíng hù bù gānshè nèizhèng de yuánzé.
  • English: China consistently adheres to the principle of mutual non-interference in internal affairs.
  • Analysis: This is a standard, formal sentence you would hear from an official or read in a textbook. It presents the principle as a long-standing and unwavering policy.
• Example 2:
  • 外交部发言人表示，希望有关国家恪守互不干涉内政的国际关系基本准则。
  • Pinyin: Wàijiāobù fāyánrén biǎoshì, xīwàng yǒuguān guójiā kèshǒu hù bù gānshè nèizhèng de guójì guānxì jīběn zhǔnzé.
  • English: The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that they hope the relevant countries will strictly observe the basic norm of international relations of non-interference in internal affairs.
  • Analysis: A very typical example of how the phrase is deployed in response to foreign criticism.
• Example 3:
  • 两国关系建立在互相尊重、互不干涉内政的基础上。
  • Pinyin: Liǎng guó guānxì jiànlì zài hùxiāng zūnzhòng, hù bù gānshè nèizhèng de jīchǔ shàng.
  • English: The relationship between the two countries is built on a foundation of mutual respect and mutual non-interference in internal affairs.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes that the principle is a precondition for healthy diplomatic relations, from the Chinese perspective.
• Example 4:
  • 任何国家都无权打着“人权”的旗号干涉别国内政。互不干涉内政是必须遵守的。
  • Pinyin: Rènhé guójiā dōu wú quán dǎzhe “rénquán” de qíhào gānshè biéguó nèizhèng. Hù bù gānshè nèizhèng shì bìxū zūnshǒu de.
  • English: No country has the right to interfere in another country's internal affairs under the banner of “human rights.” Mutual non-interference must be observed.
  • Analysis: This directly addresses the ideological clash between the Chinese principle and the Western concept of humanitarian intervention.
• Example 5:
  • 互不干涉内政是和平共处五项原则的核心内容之一。
  • Pinyin: Hù bù gānshè nèizhèng shì Hépíng Gòngchǔ Wǔ Xiàng Yuánzé de héxīn nèiróng zhī yī.
  • English: Mutual non-interference in internal affairs is one of the core components of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
  • Analysis: This sentence provides historical and political context, linking the term to its origin framework.
• Example 6:
  • 有些西方政客似乎不理解互不干涉内政对中国的重要性。
  • Pinyin: Yǒuxiē xīfāng zhèngkè sìhū bù lǐjiě hù bù gānshè nèizhèng duì Zhōngguó de zhòngyàoxìng.
  • English: Some Western politicians don't seem to understand the importance of non-interference in internal affairs to China.
  • Analysis: This is an analytical or opinion-based sentence one might find in a news commentary.
• Example 7:
  • 我们认为，国家无论大小、贫富、强弱，都应坚持互不干涉内政。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen rènwéi, guójiā wúlùn dàxiǎo, pínfù, qiángruò, dōu yīng jiānchí hù bù gānshè nèizhèng.
  • English: We believe that all countries, regardless of size, wealth, or strength, should insist on mutual non-interference in internal affairs.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the universal application of the principle, at least in theory.
• Example 8:
  • 该国指责邻国违反了互不干涉内政的协议。
  • Pinyin: Gāi guó zhǐzé lín'guó wéifǎnle hù bù gānshè nèizhèng de xiéyì.
  • English: That country accused its neighbor of violating the agreement on non-interference in internal affairs.
  • Analysis: This shows the term being used in a situation of conflict or accusation between two parties.
• Example 9:
  • 公司的两个部门之间应该做到互不干涉内政，各司其职。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī de liǎng gè bùméi zhījiān yīnggāi zuò dào hù bù gānshè nèizhèng, gè sī qí zhí.
  • English: The two departments of the company should practice “mutual non-interference in internal affairs” and each attend to their own duties.
  • Analysis: A rare, metaphorical use in a business context. The use of quotation marks in the English translation helps show it's a figurative application of a political term.
• Example 10:
  • 理解互不干涉内政是理解中国外交政策的第一步。
  • Pinyin: Lǐjiě hù bù gānshè nèizhèng shì lǐjiě Zhōngguó wàijiāo zhèngcè de dì yī bù.
  • English: Understanding non-interference in internal affairs is the first step to understanding Chinese foreign policy.
  • Analysis: A “meta” sentence for learners, stressing the term's importance to their studies of China.

• Not for Casual Conversation: The biggest mistake is thinking this is the Chinese equivalent of “mind your own business.” You would never say 互不干涉内政 to a friend who is giving you unwanted advice. That would be overly formal and sound strange. For that, you would use a phrase like `别管我的事 (bié guǎn wǒ de shì)`.
  • Incorrect: 朋友：你应该早点睡觉。 (Péngyǒu: Nǐ yīnggāi zǎodiǎn shuìjiào.) - Friend: You should go to sleep earlier.
  • Incorrect response: 我们应该互不干涉内政。 (Wǒmen yīnggāi hù bù gānshè nèizhèng.) - We should mutually not interfere in internal affairs. (This is grammatically correct but contextually bizarre and comical).
• Principle, Not Just Action: It's not just about the act of “not interfering.” It is an established, named principle (原则, yuánzé). When a Chinese official says it, they are invoking a foundational pillar of their entire foreign policy framework.
• “False Friend”: Isolationism. Do not confuse this principle with isolationism. China is one of the most globally-engaged countries in the world through trade, investment (e.g., the Belt and Road Initiative), and diplomacy. 互不干涉内政 is the rule China sets for the *nature* of these interactions: economic and cultural exchange is welcome, but political meddling is not.

• 主权 (zhǔquán) - Sovereignty. This is the core concept that 互不干涉内政 is designed to protect.
• 和平共处五项原则 (hépíng gòngchǔ wǔ xiàng yuánzé) - The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The formal diplomatic framework from which this term originates.
• 独立自主 (dúlì zìzhǔ) - Independence and self-determination. A principle that goes hand-in-hand with non-interference.
• 霸权主义 (bàquán zhǔyì) - Hegemonism. What China accuses other countries (especially the US) of practicing when they try to interfere in its internal affairs.
• 干涉 (gānshè) - To interfere. The verb at the heart of the phrase.
• 内政 (nèizhèng) - Internal affairs. The object of the phrase; the domain that is off-limits.
• 百年国耻 (bǎinián guóchǐ) - The Century of Humiliation. The key historical context that gives the principle its emotional and political weight in China.
• 外交政策 (wàijiāo zhèngcè) - Foreign policy. The area where this principle is applied.