China's dramatic economic growth since the 1970s has seemed inexorable. The resulting rise in international profile has provoked a lively argument regarding the fundamental economic and strategic challenges to the rest of the world that China now presents.

China Rising examines the extent to which that country's future foreign policy stance may be shaped by its own agendas and constrained through interdependence and interaction with the outside world. In the process it also questions the extent to which the rest of the world can attempt to shape that future to non-Chinese interests with any chance of success.

Most debates regarding China's future international position tend to be polarised between those advocating containment and those wishing to see Beijing given a much freer hand. China Rising provides a refreshing alternative to both.