ABSTRACT
L i k e m a n y other g loba l events, the U.S.-led w a r against t e r ro r i sm br ings different sets of Chinese interest i n t o confl ict . C h i n a declared so l ida r i t y w i t h the an t i t e r ro r i sm coa l i t ion because of its o w n fears of t e r ro r i sm a n d Is lamic ex t r emism a n d the chance to reap benefits b y assuming the roles of g o o d g loba l c i t izen a n d f r i end to a w o u n d e d A m e r i c a n "partner ." H o w ever, s u p p o r t i n g the U.S.- led w a r effort posed p rob lems for other areas of the Chinese agenda. Beij ing's decis ion d u r i n g the o p e n i n g phase of the w a r to express so l i da r i t y w i t h the U n i t e d States against t e r ro r i sm a n d to suppor t , i n p r i n c i p l e , the w a r i n Afghan i s t an was no t foreordained, no r was i t p o l i t i c a l l y cost-free.
