This policy is centered on free trade as its core principle.
This policy is centered on economic growth.
彼の理論は自由を基軸としている。
His theory is based on freedom as its core principle.
The company runs its business with environmental protection as its guiding foundation.
That theory is likely to become the core foundation for future research.
基準 is a concrete criterion or yardstick used for measurement or judgment, whereas 基軸 is a broader foundational principle around which a system revolves.
中心 is a general word for the center or core of anything, while 基軸 specifically implies a foundational standard or axis that other things are measured or organized around.
機軸 (also read きじく) refers to the axis of a machine or a new policy/approach, while 基軸 refers to a foundational standard or core principle; the identical pronunciation makes them easy to mix up.
key currency
Compound of 基 (foundation) and 軸 (axis). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination naturally conveys the idea of a central supporting axis.