Publication

This paper proposes an alternative approach to the China threat thesis. It argues that the problems generated by China's emergence as a prominent world power should be defined as the "China challenge". The paper begins with a short history of China's foreign policy behavior, especially during the Maoist area. It then discusses the Chinese challenge from a Chinese perspective, paying special attention to the legitimacy crisis that the Chinese Communist state is facing, the Chinese people's difficulty in identifying China and its position in the world, and the dilemma of pursuing economic development and democracy simultaneously. The last section discusses the implications for US policy toward East Asia.