China's core interests (Chinese: 中国核心利益; pinyin: Zhōngguó Héxīn Lìyì) is a term used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to signify issues that are non-negotiable parts of foreign and domestic policy of the People's Republic of China.
In July 2009, CCP's Central Foreign Affairs Leading Group Office Director Dai Bingguo gave remarks at the U.S.–China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, expanding the definition to define the primary goals that determine the country's foreign policy choices.
[2]: 193 White Paper on China’s Peaceful Development, released by the Chinese government in 2011, also confirmed the expanding definition.
[4] The National Security Law of the People's Republic of China, which took into effect in 2015, defined the core interests as "the political regime; the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the nation; and people’s livelihoods, sustainable economic development of society and other major interests".
The new definition also includes any sovereignty issues of importance such as the South China Sea, the Arunachal Pradesh and the Senkaku Islands dispute as a "core interest".