The Rise of a Liberal China?

Abstract

It is widely believed that China is rising. The implications of the rise of China are complex, and there are different assessments. China is in transition. It is undergoing a rapid transformation from a relatively backward to a more modernized country and from a lower level living standard to an overall well-off society. Though having become the world’s second largest economy, China is not yet an affluent society, with a number of contradictions or problems to be overcome. Given the constant changes in the country, those boundaries that are distinguishing developing and developed status are becoming increasingly blurred. This massive transition, profound and complex in nature, has given rise to China’s multiple identifications. China’s decisions or options today may have a considerable impact upon the rest of the world. Against this backdrop, it is believed that China needs to better define its desirable role in the world, and thus far different answers have been given in China.