ABSTRACT
China in Asia: Emerging identities In addition to Sino-American relations, the most visible means of measuring the dramatic changes which have taken place in China’s foreign policy development over the past two decades has been the relationship between Beijing and its immediate neighbours in East and Southeast Asia as well as in the greater Pacific. China’s rise in Asia has created a significant power shift in all major areas of international relations, and many of Beijing’s neighbours are in the process of re-evaluating their policies towards the great power. There is shared understanding among many of China’s neighbours that China represents a significant economic opportunity, especially in light of Beijing’s regional diplomatic initiatives including the “one belt and one road” planning and the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, as well as China’s push for free trade agreements on bilateral and regional scales.
