"Rising China" - by CWP alum Xiaoyu Pu

November 24, 2024
Rising Chinalocked Xiaoyu Pu , and Ryan Walker https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.2205 Published online: 20 November 2024

China’s emergence as a global power is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, fueled by state-led development and market-oriented reforms. However, this rise has not been without obstacles. Domestically, China faces multiple challenges in generating sustainable growth, including demographic changes and environmental concerns. Internationally, China has faced growing pushback from the West. There are varied interpretations of China’s foreign policy intentions. While Western narratives tend to portray China as a revisionist power seeking to replace the United States as the new global leader, its intentions are nuanced and contested. While China seeks to play an active role in international affairs, it is debatable if the dichotomy of status quo power and revisionist power accurately reflects China’s intentions. China’s foreign policy strategy has evolved over time, with earlier strategies emphasizing the reassurance of established powers and neighboring countries while prioritizing domestic development. Even if China’s foreign policy has become more assertive, there are elements of its continuity. Global reactions to China’s rise have been mixed. Many developing countries have welcomed China’s investment and economic partnership. However, other countries, particularly those in the developed world, have raised concerns about China’s military expansion, economic practices, and foreign policy challenges to their values and security. As China continues to rise, it will face opportunities and challenges in navigating the complex global landscape. Ultimately, the trajectory of China’s rise and its impact on the international system will depend on various factors, including China’s domestic and foreign policies, the responses of other major powers, and the shifting dynamics of global politics.

Xiaoyu Pu is an associate professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Reno. He is a member of the Public Intellectuals Program of the National Committee on United States-China Relations (NCUSCR). He has also received fellowships from the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington D.C., Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) in Brazil and the China and the World Program at Princeton University. He is the author of Rebranding China: Contested Status Signaling in the Changing Global Order (The Studies in Asian Security Series, Stanford University Press, 2019). His research has appeared in International Security, International Affairs, The China Quarterly, and The Chinese Journal of International Politics. He serves on the editorial boards of The Chinese Journal of International Politics (Oxford University Press) and Foreign Affairs Review (China).

Photo Credit: 

Xiaoyu Pu, Ph.D. Associate Professor