China’s Foreign Policy since 1978: Return to Power

By: Nicholas Khoo

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Synopsis: The launching of economic and political reforms in 1978 has transformed China’s standing in world politics. A new power has emerged. Yet, after more than four decades, the question of how to understand and interpret China's foreign policy remains a source of debate and contention. Nicholas Khoo examines China’s arrival as a major power in contemporary world politics, making the case for a neorealist model highlighting the operation of state interests and relative power. He illuminates the relevance of economic and military power projection, spiral dynamics, and the use of wedge strategies to split adversaries. Khoo also reviews influential alternative theories of Chinese foreign policy that emphasize the concepts of trade, identity, socialization, domestic politics, and the security dilemma. Presenting readers with an analysis of the major issues and theoretical debates on China’s role in bringing the Cold War to a close in East Asia, and its relations with the US and Japan, China’s Foreign Policy since 1978 will be of great interest to university students at all levels, as well as specialists on Chinese foreign policy, East Asian international relations, and international security.