China's ability to successfully make a peaceful rise to great power status is perhaps the most critical issue facing the world in the 21st century. This book argues that China's prospects for achieving great power status peacefully would depend in no small measure on domestic and international perceptions of China’s rise. These perceptions of China’s rise have the effect of significantly influencing a wide range of Chinese foreign policy interactions in ways that could lead either to a peaceful rise or a more confrontational path to great power status. Chinese foreign policy actions examined include its assertiveness in international organizations, international trade, its naval buildup, as well as its relations with Asian neighbors (India, Japan, the states of Southeast Asia), existing international powers (European Union and the United States), and emergent trading partners (Africa).Accessible and timely, this book is an ideal primer for students and scholars of China's development in the new global community.