ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines three models in an attempt to explain China's foreign policy and strategic priorities. The neorealist or structural conflict model is based upon theories of political realism. A basic assumption of this model is that the world is an international system of independent states existing in a situation of anarchy. Similar to the neorealist model, the neoliberal or liberal institutionalist model adopts a rationalist assumption, but it is rooted in political liberalism rather than political realism. According to this model, the economic transformation of China has dramatically changed Chinese strategic perceptions, and China now shares with other major powers a common stake in global economic development, military security, and political stability. The domestic politics model assumes that a state's domestic politics largely determine its foreign policy. Various interest groups in China often share common concerns with their foreign counterparts and seek to influence government policy.
