ABSTRACT
China’s efforts to confront both the former Soviet Union and the United States toward the end of the Cold War era were regarded as irrational considering its weak comprehensive power. However, from a relationality perspective, China’s self-ascribed status as a Third World or developing country victimized by two Western powers justified its actions. It took on new roles after the Cold War, including one as a defender of developing countries and one as a rising great power. In this chapter, I will discuss how those roles put pressure on China to balance various types of relationality when interacting with different countries and international organizations. Thus, China’s support of or resistance to UN charter reforms at different times signifies a relationality dilemma.
