ABSTRACT
The rise of China continues in the twenty-first century. China’s growing
economic and military power, expanding political influence, distinctive diplomatic voice, and increasing involvement in regional multilateral institu-
tions are key developments in East Asian affairs. China’s stable political
succession from the third to the fourth generation of leadership as well as a
consistent and balanced growth-oriented development has given new con-
fidence to the current leaders in China. Despite its chronic domestic pro-
blems including the reform of state-owned enterprises, unemployment and
soaring crime, and disparities between urban and rural areas and between
east and west, China’s new leaders, with the aim of making their country a great power, have pushed forward to upgrade China’s international status.
Given the growth of China, neighbouring states in East Asia are keenly
interested to see what type of great power China is likely to become and
have also struggled with the question of how to live with a growing China.1
