Chinese foreign policy through an internal lens

Can foreign countries function as symbols in Chinese internal factional disputes?

Based on the experience described here, yes; China's external outlook can reflect strongly internal perceptions.

China's outlook on the world is described as a strongly internalized external view. Foreign countries can be interpreted through domestic perceptions and used as symbols in internal factional disputes. An external policy signal may perform political work inside China as well as address another state. Analysts should consider that domestic meaning when interpreting outward behavior.