China in Global Politics: Cooperation or Confrontation?

Chinese Perceptions of the International World

Abstract

China's continuous economic growth and rapid military modernization in recent decades have sparked intense debate among scholars and policymakers regarding the future of the existing regional and global order. This article aims to shed light on the current international order from a Chinese perspective. It will delve into the foundations of the Chinese worldview and China's vision for the future structure of the world. Furthermore, the article will outline China's official stance on the reform of major international organizations and assess China's new dynamism and the constraints that hinder its efforts to reform the existing world order under the current leadership. It will argue that while President Xi Jinping has pursued a more proactive foreign policy, launched large-scale initiatives to increase China's influence, and adopted a distinctive approach to Chinese exceptionalism, his pragmatic reformist policies are largely in line with those of his predecessors. Based on this, the article will challenge the Western view that sees inevitable conflict between rising powers and instead paint a picture of a more adaptable China.