Following the flow: China’s approach to global leadership

Abstract

The liberal international order has been under heavy strain in recent years. From Brexit to Trump’s presidency, its tenacity is being put to the test. The resultant commotion should be a window of opportunity for China to materially revise the existing order or establish an alternative order under its leadership. However, the puzzle that is unfolding but not yet significantly examined is that China is seemingly not taking advantage of the upheaval in the liberal international order to substantially revise the order or set up a new one. Premised on the metaphor of “following the flow,” this paper argues that there is understandable rationale as to why China is appearing to ignore the opportunity to establish a China-led global order. It then explores the approach in China’s posture as protector of globalization and the liberal international order.