Chinese Policy and Regional Relations

As Chinese policy continues to evolve with changes in the wider global environment as well as China’s own domestic situation, we see a China that is more confident and in many situations more assertive of the positive impact it can have on global, but especially regional affairs. As an ancient civilization, modern nation, economic powerhouse and key member of the United Nations, China views itself, and rightly so, as being on par with traditionally dominant Western powers. However, China’s increased confidence and involvement in global affairs, even if it may ultimately do good, is a disruptive force in the global order that grew out of the Second World War. This, in conjunction with the increasingly fragmented state of overall global governance in general, means that China has naturally placed a great deal of emphasis on its own “backyard”, making regional relations a priority in setting global policy.