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”，语出《史记》，意为依靠美德行事的人一定兴旺发达，凭借暴力行事的人必将走向灭亡。中国人自古提倡以德服人，反对以权压人，认为只有用德行才能让人心悦诚服，而权力只能使人被迫屈从，不能达成真实持久的和谐团结。
2016年4月，习近平在亚洲相互协作与信任措施会议第五次外长会议开幕式上引用“恃德者昌，恃力者亡”一语，倡议树立共同、综合、合作、可持续的亚洲安全观，提出应依据国际法，坚持对话协商，以和平方式解决争议问题，并通过对话增互信、解纷争、促安全，共创亚洲和平与繁荣的美好未来。