What decision making process is used by the People's Republic of China in forming its foreign policy? Has this process changed at all in recent years, and what can the world expect in their relations with China after Deng Xiaoping? This work offers and unprecedented survey of China's foreign relations since 1949. The contributors include leading historians, economists, and political scientists in the field of Chinese studies, as well as noteworthy international relations specialists. Beginning with an analysis of the historical, perceptual, economic, and political sources of Chinese foreign policy, the work reviews China's desire to ensure its own security and regain freedom of initiative in its foreign relations. The work then reviews the international sources of China's foreign relations, such as strategic systems and scientific imperatives, as the country searches for a redefined role in the multipolar world order. By taking a useful interdisciplinary approach, this book greatly contributes to our understanding of China's modern role in international relations.