This book examines the international relations of the People's Republic of China since its founding in 1949 and provides a balanced assessment of the country's recent successes and advances as well as the important legacies and constraints that hamper it, especially in nearby Asia - long the focus of China's foreign policy attention. The author demonstrates how Beijing has carefully created an image of a China that follows consistent policies based on morally correct principles, but its record shows repeated episodes of sometime surprising change and frequent use of violence, intimidation, and coercion. China's leaders, he argues, still fail to manage the desire for productive foreign relations with their aspirations to build Chinese security and sovereignty interests. Image-building efforts condition Chinese public and elite opinion to be extraordinarily sensitive, self-righteous, and often alarmist in dealing with the many disputes China has with its Asian neighbors and the United States.

Assessing China's role in world affairs -- Mao's changing course in foreign affairs, 1949-1969 -- Maneuvering between the U.S. and USSR, 1969-1989 -- Chinese foreign relations after the cold war -- Patterns of decision making and international outlook -- China's changing importance in world affairs -- Relations with the United States -- Relations with neighboring Asian countries -- Relations beyond nearby Asia -- Implications and outlook.