Northeast Asia is the most dynamic sector of the global economy, and the most dynamic element is undoubtedly the rise of China. However, in this region conflicts dating back to the Cold War have not yet found resolution. The imbalance between economic progress and political stagnation ensures that international affairs pose many challenges to governments and to students alike. The two papers herein, originally presented at the Strategic Studies Institute's 2007 annual Strategy Conference, highlight the challenges posed by the rise of China and by the new possibility for making progress on Korean issues due to the Six- Party Agreements on North Korean proliferation of February 13, 2007. In keeping with the conference's theme, "Regional Challenges to American Security," Dr. Chu Shulong, the first paper's author, presents a view of China's interests, goals, and perspectives on Northeast Asian issues.