ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief overview of Chinese defence policy and foreign affairs in the post-Cold War era, in particular the domestic and external factors that influence the direction of Beijing's foreign and defence policy decisions. China's re-emergence as a major power in global and regional affairs presents both opportunities and challenges for Beijing's defence and foreign policy. Most predictions about the implications of China's rise—whether is based on realism or liberalism—focus predominantly on the structural opportunities, incentives and constraints that could affect Beijing's foreign policy behaviour and strategies. China's defence and foreign policy have undergone significant changes over the past three decades. Beijing faces both opportunities and challenges as its power continues to grow. The chapter argues that even though China's security environment has greatly improved, Beijing's new security agendas and the emerging, non-traditional security challenges as well as unresolved territorial disputes continue to pose significant threats to its core national interests.
