He who cherishes virtue prospers; he who favors might perishes. 

This is a warning from the Records of the Historian. It reflects the ancient Chinese advocacy of winning others’ admiration with virtue and opposition to forcing others with power. Virtue can convince people and bring lasting harmony and genuine solidarity, while power only forces them to obey.

Addressing the opening of the Fifth Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia, Xi Jinping quoted the Chinese adage, “He who cherishes virtue prospers; he who favors might perishes.” He proposed a new Asian approach to common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and called for upholding peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and consultation in accordance with international law, and enhancing trust, resolving disagreements, and promoting security through dialogue, so as to bring enduring peace and common prosperity and open up a great future for Asia.

恃德者昌，恃力者亡

“恃德者昌，恃力者亡”，語出《史記》，意為依靠美德行事的人一定興旺發達，憑借暴力行事的人必將走向滅亡。中國人自古提倡以德服人，反對以權壓人，認為只有用德行才能讓人心悅誠服，而權力只能使人被迫屈從，不能達成真實持久的和諧團結。

2016年4月，習近平在亞洲相互協作與信任措施會議第五次外長會議開幕式上引用“恃德者昌，恃力者亡”一語，倡議樹立共同、綜合、合作、可持續的亞洲安全觀，提出應依據國際法，堅持對話協商，以和平方式解決爭議問題，并通過對話增互信、解紛爭、促安全，共創亞洲和平與繁榮的美好未來。