Domestic Sources of China’s Emerging Grand Strategy

China’s emerging grand strategy has deep domestic roots, which can be examined in terms of cultural tradition, socioeconomic development, and strategic choices. China’s cultural tradition emphasizes he wei gui (priority to peace) and he er bu tong (unity in diversity). China’s modernization demands a peaceful environment. In fact, the majority of Chinese elites and common people have realized that China cannot become rich and strong without a peaceful environment. Peaceful development is a strategic choice made by leaders from Deng Xiaoping to Hu Jintao. A rising China is facing cultural, economic, environmental, and political challenges. This study also highlights the difficulty of practicing China’s emerging grand strategy. Keywords development • open-door • peace • reform • strategy China’s emerging grand strategy can be summarized as ‘peaceful development’ (heping fazhan). The term ‘peaceful development ’ highlights the connections between China’s domestic development and foreign relations. In 2003–4, th