This book addresses one of the most pressing geopolitical inquiries of our era: how will China's ambition manifest on the global stage? To address this question, the book considers Chinas long tradition of statecraft. By doing this, it provides a unique and novel insight into the why behind Chinas actions and sparks a crucial dialogue on how to best navigate Chinas global rise. 

 Through a keen analytical lens, the book illuminates both the constraints and the flexibility inherent in Chinese policy-making. It underscores the geographic and historical factors that constrain China's actions, forcing its leaders into trade-offs. It also highlights the system's inherent flexibility, expanding the range of strategic options available when dealing with China. The most unique contribution consists in framing the pre-occupations of contemporary China in the context of both long-standing Chinese trends and unprecedented global changes.

This book offers a nuanced and realistic guide for senior policy makers, business leaders, academic researchers, and global citizens who seek to decipher the enigma of China's ascent and channel its trajectory towards a more positive and responsible direction.

Jean Dong serves as a Research Fellow at the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Melbourne and, as of August 2024, is a Visiting Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Since 2016, Jean has served as a task force member of the G20 think tank engagement group (T20), contributing under the leadership of Japan, China, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, and India. She has played an active role in shaping policy recommendations for G20 leaders on vital topics such as WTO reform, fiscal policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and reforms in multilateralism.

Her research interests and projects encompass Chinese history and political culture, Asian strategic security and geopolitics, as well as the alignment and governance of Artificial General Intelligence. Prior to her academic and policy pursuits, Jean accumulated extensive industry experience in bilateral and multilateral economic diplomacy work.