ABSTRACT
The rise of China as a key player on the global stage is undoubtedly a signifi cant phenomenon in international relations (Shambaugh 2005; Wang 2004). Much of the debate among Western scholars and analysts focuses on the questions of how Chinese leaders will use their growing power to pursue their national interest and how the world should respond to an increasingly powerful China. These are no doubt important questions, but they cannot be fully answered without taking into account Chinese security perceptions. How do Chinese leaders and policy elites view the structure of the post-Cold War international system? How do they perceive China’s interests and its role in the changing security envi ronment? How are these issues related to China’s domestic political and economic agenda?
