The Rise of China

This chapter introduces the concept of Chinese exceptionalism as a framework for studying China’s political worldview and international relations. It argues that a discourse of Chinese exceptionalism has permeated Chinese scholarly circles as a mode of political inquiry into China’s international relations and vision of global order. Consequently it argues that a framework of exceptionalism provides a more comprehensive explanation of China’s international politics and foreign policy behavior. The chapter also discusses the research design of this study, which is based primarily on elite interviews and discourse analysis. It concludes with an outline of the remaining eight chapters of the book, and how they relate to the broader theme of Chinese exceptionalism.

Perceiving China

This chapter examines the perspectives of Vietnamese and Indonesian elites towards China and the extent to which efforts to promote a positive Chinese national image have been successful in these two countries. Utilizing information gathered from field research, I argue that both countries perceive China as attempting to modify – not entirely revise – the rules of the international system to suit its purposes. Territorial issues remain a primary focus in the two countries’ relationships with China, and they also express concerns that China’s growing influence will cause an unstable regional environment. Interviewees also expressed considerable doubt about the idea of Chinese exceptionalism and tended to perceive China as acting like any other big power.

Afterword

This chapter analyzes Chinese responses to the events of the Covid-19 global pandemic and identifies themes of Chinese exceptionalism and Chinese benevolence in Beijing’s pandemic-related global interactions. Three core narratives have framed China’s response: that China is a responsible power; that China is self-sacrificing; and that China is superior to the West. At the same time, however, the events of the Covid-19 pandemic have also generated considerable criticism of the Chinese government, and how it being perceived as being good and different from the West. All of these factors have long-term implications for China’s claim to global leadership and the attractiveness of its political worldview.