How did China navigate its role within the United Nations Security Council regarding the Iraq crisis between 1990 and 2002? Suzanne Xiao Yang examines the evolution of Chinese foreign policy during a critical decade of international intervention. By analyzing official statements, voting records, and diplomatic correspondence, the author argues that China's decision-making was driven by a complex interplay between its adherence to sovereignty and its desire to maintain its status as a responsible global power. The work provides a framework for understanding how Beijing balances domestic interests with international obligations in multilateral forums.

Experts in international relations and Chinese foreign policy identify this work as a rigorous examination of Beijing's diplomatic maneuvering. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a foundational text for scholars studying China's integration into global governance structures.