China's Future Intent

This paper examines whether the People's Republic of China intends to become a responsible world power or an international rogue state in the post-Cold War global system. Based on my research, I believe China is striving to develop into a legitimate world power despite examples of questionable foreign policy. China's arms sales and looming territorial disputes are causing global concerns. In addition, China's numerous domestic problems could impact US national security interests. The US must therefore become actively involved with China by encouraging responsible technology transfers, peaceful settlements to regional disagreements, and multilateral assistance to China's internal woes. Such actions will stabilize China's rise in the new international system and thereby increase the security of the post-Cold War world. This research effort is limited in scope due to time and length constraints. As a result, some ideas are mentioned only briefly in order to provide general background information to support the thesis. Additionally, I tried to conduct the research with an open mind and avoid writing from a "Western" perspective. The methodology included consulting numerous books, technical reports, and periodicals at the Air University library. Various sources from the Air Command and Staff College curriculum were also used.