ABSTRACT
China Rising is the third and probably most influential book written by David C. Kang. It builds on the long-standing areas of interest explored in his earlier books, journalism, and scholarly articles, including the peculiarities of East Asia, the concept of hierarchy, and the role of ideas and culture in East Asian international relations. The publication of China Rising brought about an important turning point in Kang's career. Kang is considered one of the key proponents of a policy of engagement toward Beijing and an outspoken critic of a policy of containment of China's rise. Throughout his work, Kang portrays the Asian system as one that should be considered unique, and appreciated and analyzed as such. He concludes that shared history and identity are absolutely fundamental, and the acceptance of China as a natural and legitimate leader on the part of its Asian neighbors is, for Kang, clear evidence of this.
