Conclusion: Big or Small

The world cannot afford for China to lose. Arguments can be made on whether or not China’s leaders will realize their global ambitions, but the direction of Chinese politics and economy will largely dictate whether global challenges, from fighting climate change to global pandemics, can be overcome. Overreaction to China’s assertive foreign policy must be avoided, as too must naïveté toward China’s global ambitions. China’s actions during the beginning of the twenty-first century present lessons for countries around the world to manage their relations with Beijing, but a collective and sustained response is paramount. The world does not require American or Chinese leadership to give it order. Common economic interests and political values exist between Asian and Western countries. Middle powers and small states will not simply follow the dictates of Washington or Beijing, but will instead blend, package, and resist big power pressures in pursuit of their own ambitions.