China's footprint around the world.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: AFP.

Since 1954, China has upheld the principle of "non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries" in its foreign policy, rejecting American-style interventionism. Instead, it has increased economic intervention in unstable countries like Myanmar and Zimbabwe, aiming to strengthen Beijing's global standing, according to AFP.

China recently made an unusual move by proposing a strategy to address the crisis involving Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar who are flooding the border region with Bangladesh.

Beijing is also increasing its role in the Middle East, a major source of oil for China. After a long period of remaining on the sidelines, China is now offering to chair dialogues on the Syrian crisis and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

China is predicted to assume greater responsibility in world affairs because it "is no longer a weakling," according to Kerry Brown, a China expert at Imperial College London. "An elephant can't pretend to be a mouse forever," he said, using an analogy.

A global impact

China's 21st-century Silk Road. Graphic: Viet Chung (Click on the image to view it in larger size).

China's footprint abroad is becoming increasingly prominent with its ambitious "Belt and Road" infrastructure project across Asia and Europe, aiming to revive the "Silk Road" trade route through a vast network of railways and seaports.

As Beijing's overseas interests expand, "naturally, the question of how to protect those interests will arise," observed Chinese political commentator Chen Daoyin.

At the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last month, President Xi Jinping set an ambitious goal of transforming China into a leading superpower with a formidable military force.

Chen noted that Xi Jinping's declaration of "upholding the world order" indicates an increasingly proactive role for China on the international stage, nearly matching that of the United States.

While China hasn't openly abandoned its non-interventionist approach, it will "gradually undermine it, gradually shifting from non-intervention to neutrality and ultimately to intervention," Chen predicts. "When China's national interests abroad are harmed, it's entirely possible they will use the pretext of protecting investments and citizens to deploy troops for intervention."

Beijing is also gradually strengthening its military power. In August, China opened its first overseas military base in Djibouti. Simultaneously, it has illegally constructed numerous military facilities on artificial islands illegally reclaimed in the South China Sea.

However, even without direct military intervention, China tends to get drawn into the political maelstrom in the countries it enters, despite Beijing's claims of maintaining a neutral political force.

Zimbabwe's army chief, Constantine Chiwenga, made an official visit to Beijing a few days before the coup that led to the resignation of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. This development fueled speculation that Beijing may have somehow influenced the Zimbabwean military's decision.

Chinese leaders have a fairly close relationship with Mr. Mugabe and have invested heavily in Zimbabwe over the years.

Kerry Brown said he was "skeptical" about speculation regarding Chinese interference in Zimbabwe, but that, as a superpower, choosing sides is inevitable.

"If others hand over power to you, you have it and you have influence," Brown said. "Therefore, neutrality cannot be sustainable."

A Chinese-invested thermal power plant is being built in Zimbabwe. Photo: SCMP.

In Cambodia, China is the largest source of foreign investment, totaling $11.2 billion by the end of 2016. This has also led to Cambodia becoming increasingly dependent on China, according to Brian Eyler, director of the Southeast Asia program at the Stimson Center, a US-based policy institute.

Myanmar is also receiving unceasing support from China. Beijing has invested billions of dollars in ports and oil and gas exploration areas in Rakhine State, Myanmar, including a $2.45 billion oil pipeline that became operational in April.

"Everything seems to be linked to China, from Zimbabwe to Myanmar, Sri Lanka, or even political issues in New Zealand. This is an extraordinary shift," Brown said.

"The idea of ​​non-intervention has probably become impossible. Even if China didn't want to get involved, the problem would find them anyway," Brown emphasized.

According to VNE