In a world marked by turbulence and uncertainty, China remains clear-headed about its objectives and strategic direction. This clarity is epitomized in the nation's Five-Year Plans, which have driven consistent progress over decades. A comparative look at the international landscape brings this into sharper focus.

Policy "flip-flops" vs strategic continuity

Stability has become the rarest resource in the world today. While the five-year planning mechanism is not unique to China, many nations have abandoned it due to social unrest or the short-term cycle of electoral politics. In the West, political polarization often traps countries in frequent "policy reversals".

When one administration steps down, its successor dismantles the previous agenda. Such polarization erodes the ground for consensus. Opposing factions, viewing each other as threats, shift the focus from "how to govern together" to "how to prevent the other side from governing". In this atmosphere, long-term policies struggle to survive, and the state drifts without a stable direction.

By contrast, China runs a trans-century strategic relay. From the first Five-Year Plan to the upcoming 15th, the goal of modernization has remained constant. Each five-year plan lays a solid foundation for the next.

While some Western politicians obsess over next quarter's poll numbers, China is systematically advancing its vision for 2035 and charting a course toward the mid-century goals. The contrast could not be clearer: one system exhausts itself in constant, directionless shifts, while the other builds momentum through strategic persistence.

Parochial interests vs national prioritization

Major undertakings require concentrated resources. Yet, in many Western political ecosystems, national interests are often carved up by interest groups — the military-industrial complex, energy giants and financial oligarchs — resulting in political gridlock.

The core strength of China's Five-Year Plans lies in its capacity to pool resources toward strategic national goals. Whether building industrial foundations of earlier plans to advancing high-level technological self-reliance in areas like chips and artificial intelligence, the plans serve as a central coordinating mechanism.

They ensure that resources are allocated according to long-term national strategy and public welfare, not dispersed by the fragmented, short-term demands of vested interests. This capacity for coordinated national mobilization stands as a distinctive feature of China's system.

Neoliberal hollowing-out vs synergistic governance

The neoliberal belief in minimal government has, in many Western economies, led to hollowed-out manufacturing and fractured supply chains. This has sparked a broad reckoning with the limitations of neoliberal ideology.

China operates on a synergistic model where the "visible hand" of government directs long-term strategy, while the "invisible hand" of the market drives innovation. This synergy has fostered China's global leadership in new energy vehicles and photovoltaics, with strategic foresight in the 12th and 13th Five-Year Plans, combined with market-based incentives, propelling firms to global competitiveness. Through forward-looking layouts and mechanisms that promote technological upgrades, Chinese enterprises have emerged more resilient.

Exclusive prosperity vs Inclusive development

True success is measured by the well-being of the people. In many developed nations, high growth figures mask a widening wealth gap — a "K-shaped" reality where the rich get richer while the poor struggle with inflation and crumbling infrastructure.

China's planning, however, centers on "the people's aspiration for a better life". The targeted poverty alleviation campaign, which lifted nearly 100 million rural residents out of poverty 10 years ahead of the UN schedule, stands as a historic miracle. In the recommendations for the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, "common prosperity" holds paramount importance. From extending 5G networks to remote villages to advancing income redistribution reforms, the goal is to ensure that the benefits of development reach all citizens.

Trust deficit vs whole-process people's democracy

Western democracy increasingly resembles a cyclical spectacle, where voters are courted during elections campaigns and ignored afterward. This cycle creates a massive trust deficit.

China's approach embodies a whole-process people's democracy. During the drafting of the Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development, the state solicited over 3 million online suggestions. Issues raised by citizens, from AI ethics to cultural preservation, were directly incorporated into the final policy document. By basing top-level design on public input, China finds the broadest common ground of public will to ensure that policies address the real needs of the people.

Political rhetoric vs Implementable commitments

Western politics is often plagued by "Governance by Presentation" — flashy promises made and quickly forgotten after elections. In China's political system, a plan is a solemn commitment, and delivery of its goals are strictly monitored.

Whether in winning the battle against pollution or exceeding clean energy targets years ahead of schedule, China demonstrates great execution capability, which is essential to achieving national rejuvenation.

Opportunism vs principled resilience

While some Western politicians bend principles as flexible tools for political gain, China maintains strategic resolve. Adjustments are made in methodology, but never in fundamental direction. For instance, when GDP growth slowed down during the pandemic, China's employment-first strategy remained unshakable. Similarly, on food security, China has firmly maintained the red line for arable land, no matter what, ensuring a stable food supply at home. It is like steering a ship through a storm: the rudder may be adjusted as needed, but the destination remains unchanged.

The global attention paid to China's Five-Year Plans is well-founded. The certainty of China's governance provides reassurance to its 1.4 billion people and stands as a stabilizing force in a volatile world.

The author is a commentator on international affairs, writing regularly for Xinhua News, Global Times, China Daily, CGTN etc.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

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