China's Foreign Political and Economic Relations

This balanced and thoughtful book presents a thorough analysis of the dynamics of Chinas foreign relations. Sebastian Heilmann and Dirk H. Schmidt provide a comprehensive and discriminating view of the complex, often competing factors (domestic influences, regional tensions, global uncertainties) that shape Chinese foreign policy. They portray the PRC as a land of multiple identitiesa nation that is becoming more assertive in East Asia as it explores novel approaches to its foreign economic policies, while simultaneously displaying thin-skinned sensitivities when confronted with international criticism. The authors argue that unconventional approaches to foreign relationsin particular a unique combination of long-term strategies with multilevel policy experimentsare driving Chinese global expansion. The provocative and challenging final chapter, designed to spur discussion, considers Chinas imperial identity warring against the decentralized activities conducted in the shadow of the empire. Illicit transnational guerilla-like networks have thus become powerful driving forces behind the continued development of Chinas foreign policy as well as its foreign-trade relations. The authors contend that the activities of these niche nomads, with their largely invisible or chameleon-like presence, constitute the most alarming dimension of Chinas foreign relations as they gain ground and resources in many parts of the world with the potential to shake the very foundations of other societies.