China and the International Order: Some Historical Perspectives

　　Author： Wang Gungwu, Chairman, East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore

　　Abstract：The order established after the World War II by the U.S. and other Western powers remains the basis of the current international order. For an extended period of time, the international society has been appealing that China adheres to the various rules of this international order. From a historical perspective, China’s cognitive understanding of this international order, as well as its role and status within it, has changed considerably, and this can be attributed to China’s historical, traditional and cultural factors, and to the interactive influences exerted by its external environment. China’s progressive understanding of the world order can be divided into four stages, with each stage threatening to fundamentally change the Chinese erstwhile perception of the world. Yet at the same time, each stage appears to guide the Chinese to adjust themselves to manage those demands exerted from the outside while challenging the new world view. China still has a lot to do to contribute to the building of an attractive, peaceful and stable world order.