Author Description

Since China emerged as the second economically strongest power in the world, the international community has paid increasingly more attention to it. China's rise as a G2 power as part of a transition of global power and the potential future of the Chinese economy have been of particular interest. The changing nature of U.S.-China relations and the strategic environment of East Asia during this transition of global power has become a topic of high interest for Korea as well. This is a crucial time to accurately analyze and evaluate the present and future of China. There is no value in underestimating or overestimating China's prospects. Since South Korea must cooperate strategically and wisely with China to deal with a changing North Korea while at the same time preparing for unification of the Korean Peninsula, accurate analysis and understanding of the reality of China's power-Chinese leadership and political economy, and its foreign policy and strategy towards North Korea -is necessary. Given these strategic issues, this study intends to discuss and analyze China's political economy and leadership, foreign policy and relations, and major countries' (the U.S., Japan, Russia, India, and Australia) policies toward China as part of a joint research project with experts abroad. This study is deeply indebted to a few individuals for their precious advice and cooperation in assembling this volume: Dr. Jae H. Ku at the U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS, Johns Hopkins University, and Dr. Yong Shik Choo at the Graduate School of International Studies, Chung-Ang University. Also a special thanks to Mimi Ahn, who devoted several months of her time throughout the entire process of publication. As the editor of this volume, it is my hope that this research helps academics and experts as well as general audiences to better understand the implications of China's rise to its region and the world.