The rise of China from a poor, isolated country to a prosperous and powerful one in the space of 40 years is one of the most interesting and impactful phenomena in international relations. China’s grand strategy has evolved over time from strategies of survival under Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping to regaining its standing as a major power under Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and now Xi Jinping. Xi’s China has been particularly proactive about building Chinese economic, military, and political power, and has been explicit about leveraging this to become a global power and a dominant power in Asia. In addition to external threats and opportunities, domestic factors also shape the contours of Chinese grand strategy. Debates about Chinese intentions, in particular towards international institutions and military expansion, color perspectives on the potential impact of Chinese grand strategy and the degree to which other countries should attempt to undermine it. These topics—the evolution of Chinese grand strategy, its drivers, and its implications—are the subject of this chapter.
Access the beginning of the chapter here. This excerpt is from Strategy in the Contemporary World 7e, edited by John Baylis, James J. Wirtz, and Jeannie L. Johnson, reproduced by permission of Oxford University Press. The full book can be ordered here.
