The Geopolitics of China

China’s rise over the past four decades to be the second largest economy in the world (in real terms) and the subsequent political influence this has generated are a defining feature of geopolitics today. As China’s international position has changed, so too have the geopolitical priorities of its leadership. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long sought to restore the country to what it considers to be its rightful place among the great powers. “National rejuvenation” has since become a central tenet of Xi Jinping’s rule and is associated with a more assertive global role for China. This has included the push toward a multipolar world, encouraged by CCP initiatives that aim to further its economic, political, and technological influence. China’s success and its evolving geopolitics have brought it into increased strategic competition with the United States, which is seeking multilateral cooperation to counter its rival. Nowhere are the risks of this competition more evident than the potential for conflict over Taiwan.