Confidence doctrine

Four matters of confidence refer to confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics.[9] According to an official translation:[9]

"Confidence in its path" is confidence in the direction of development of socialism with Chinese characteristics and confidence in its future; "confidence in its theory" is confidence in the scientific nature... of the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics; "confidence in its system" is confidence in the advanced and superior nature of the system of Chinese socialism; "confidence in its culture" is a full affirmation of the value of China's own culture and a faith in its vitality. These four form an organic whole; they provide a complete conceptual system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The CPC believes that China's national system and system of governance are guided by Marxism and have deep roots in Chinese culture, formed through the unique experience of the CPC and the Chinese people, and are "deeply supported by the people."[7] To promote institution-building, the CPC believes it to be necessary to study and learn from the "useful achievements of foreign systems and civilizations, but not to copy foreign models," deviating from China's "national conditions and historical culture."[7]

According to the theory of the Communist Party of China, China's national system and system of governance have significant advantages and are the basic basis for the "four self-confidence".[10] According to the Decision of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC, China's national system and system of governance have remarkable advantages in 13 areas, including: the leadership of the party, political stability, ability to mobilize for major projects, flexibility and adaptation, the combination of socialism and market characteristics, increase of people's welfare and standard of living, socialist rule of law, party's leadership over the military, equality of the different nationalities, and the combination of independence and openness to the outside world.[10]

The Chinese Communist Party believes that China's rapid economic development and long-term social stability have demonstrated the "remarkable advantages" of its national system and system of governance, namely:[7]

• Rapid economic development: in the more than 70 years since the establishment of the PRC, and especially since reform and opening, China has experienced rapid economic development that is rare in the world, becoming the world's second largest economy, the largest manufacturing power, the largest trading power in goods and has the largest foreign exchange reserve, and entering the world's forefront in economic strength, scientific and technological strength, national defence strength and comprehensive national power. The largest and most growing middle-income group in the world has been formed. The people's well-being in the areas of employment, education, health care, housing, old age and social security has continued to improve.
• Long-term social stability: China has maintained long-term social harmony and stability, and its people live and work in peace and contentment, making it "one of the countries recognized by the international community as having the greatest sense of security."

The CPC believes that China's performance in containing the 2019-2020 coronavirus pandemic, which demonstrates China's efficient mobilization and organizational coordination, reflects the superiority of China's national governance capacity and the advantages of the CPC's leadership.[11] After the start of the epidemic caused by the novel coronavirus, the Party Central Committee made "swift decisions" to carry out a comprehensive range of actions, including treatment of patients, scientific research, production and transportation of material, public opinion guidance, traffic control and social isolation, while also coordinating the domestic prevention and control of the epidemic, economic and social development, and international cooperation.[11]

An article by the CPC notes that the fight against the coronavirus pandemic demonstrates two of China's institutional strengths:[11]

• The Party exercises comprehensive overall leadership. The Party Central Committee, in accordance with democratic centralism, exercises unified command and control over party committees and governments on all levels. The Party Committee can oversee the situation and coordinate all parties, including coordinating the legislature, the government, the CPPCC and other institutions at all levels, and can fully mobilize manpower and allocate resources. From the central government to the local level and then to the grassroots level, including enterprises, villages, communities, schools and social organizations, party organizations are omnipresent and carries out the will of the Party.
• China is a unitary state. The State Council ordered local governments to prevent and control the epidemic based on a central plan. This includes requiring local governments to send medical teams and provide medical equipment to assist Wuhan and Hubei province. In contrast to the situation abroad, the Chinese Communist Party believes that this can only be done under China's national system and ability to divert the entire national capacity in important projects.