“Interior” and “Exterior” of the Text of the Chinese Constitution

The “interior” and “exterior” of the text of the current Constitution refer to the internal ways of national integration, and the foreign policies as well as the understanding of world order of the socialist unified multi-ethnic Chinese nation. The “interior” narrative dimension of the text of the current constitution is mainly embodied in the basic settings of administrative divisions, the constitutional construction of the unified multi-ethnic nation, the national unity and the identity of the Chinese nation. The “exterior” dimension refers to adherence to an independent foreign policy of peace as well as five principles of peaceful coexistence, and promotion of building a community with a shared future for mankind and so on in terms of China’s diplomatic principles and the understanding of world order in the twelfth paragraph of the constitution preamble. Two sides have been presented of a spatial dimension in regards to nation-building in the “interior” and “exterior” of the text of the current Constitution. In 2018, “the revitalization of China” and “promotion of building a community with a shared future for mankind” were enshrined in the Constitution, which reflected such a political effort aimed at “balancing our domestic and international interests”, coping with the international situation of “great changes not seen in a century”, and achieving the “Two Centenary Goals”.