ABSTRACT
The rise of China which coincided with the collapse of the Soviet Union has attracted special attention in the post-Cold War era. Given the huge potential in the Chinese economy and military, many difficult questions arose from the assumption that China might become a "candidate" of great power. 1 Realists believe that a modernized China with a GNP equal to or greater than that of the United States and with roughly comparable military potential would inevitably become a major rival for world power.2 By contrast, liberals argue that China has come to embrace interdependence and globalization with increasing enthusiasm, and globalization will integrate China into the international community. China can bargain for its national interests within this framework and thus the relative balance of power is not accurately characterized by polarity.3 To be sure, either positive or negative developments in Chinese behavior in the near future will significantly impact the international system. In the realm of international security, the uncertainty and ambiguity of China's prospective development refer to two critical issues. First, China's increasing defense expenditures derived from its burgeoning economic strength have made it the second largest in the world. China has been continuously acquiring sophisticated armaments from outsiders. Second, the traditional strategy of dependence on manpower and people 's war has been replaced with greater reliance on high-tech weapon systems, under the new military doctrine termed "high-tech national defense strategy."4 Many controversies and speculations have stemmed from the observation of China's emerging professional military. However, whether or not these efforts will translate into practical military power remains to be seen.
