Chinas Big Power Ambition under Xi Jinping

Instead of emphasizing China as a developing country, Chinese President Xi Jinping has identified China as a big power and accentuated Chinas big power status. This book explores the narratives and driving forces behind China's big power ambition. Three narratives rooted in Sino-centralism are examined. One is Chinas demands for the reform of global governance to reflect the values and interests of China as a rising power. Another is Chinas Belt and Road Initiative to construct a nascent China-centred world order. The third is the China model and self-image promotion in the developing countries. There are many forces that have driven or constrained Chinas big power ambition. This collection focuses on two sets of forces. One is Chinas domestic politics and economic incentives and disincentives. The other is Chinas geo-political and geo-economic interests. These forces have both motivated and constrained Chinas big power ambition. The chapters in this book were originally published in the Journal of Contemporary China.