China and International Orders

Systemic change is the most critical development in the current international politics. China can be regarded as a key player in this ongoing change. The authors aim to investigate the Chinese approach to international orders. The authers assume that there are three overlapping international orders including hegemonic, constitutional and balance of power. The main question is that how China sees these international orders and how it reacts strategically. The article hypothesizes that Chinese opposition to hegemonic order, increasing role in the balance of power and revisionist approach and parallel institution-building in constitutional order are three inter-related elements of Chinese global strategy. The finding of the article shows that rather than sticking to some clichés such as challenger or revisionist, it is more beneficial to view China as an actor simultaneously challenging the hegemonic order, seeking security in the balance of power and making order in constitutional order. The article can open a new pathway for viewing rising international players with alternative approach.