Summary: Publisher Summary 1 In his assessment of the determinants of and significant developments in Chinese foreign relations in the post-Cold War era, Sutter (Asian studies, School of Foreign Services, Georgetown U.) disagrees with those who argue that China has settled on a long term strategy focusing on peace and development and the establishment of a harmonious world order for the next several decades, instead finding great variability in Chinese foreign policy which changes in response to domestic factors such as internal leadership changes, debates, and economic and military modernization as well as to events outside China. His opening chapters thematically explore the foreign policy priorities of Chinese leaders and the relation of those priorities to leaders' domestic priorities, changing Chinese worldviews and patterns of decision-making and their influence on foreign policy and behavior, the importance of Chinese economic development and economic globalization, and perspectives on national security issues. He then presents chapters that individually focus on relations with the United States; Taiwan; Japan and Korea; Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands; South and Central Asia; Russia and Europe; and the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Future prospects are analyzed in the concluding chapter. Annotation 漏2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)   Publisher Summary 2 This comprehensive introduction to Chinese foreign relations explores the opportunities and limits China faces as it seeks growing international influence. Tracing the record of twists and turns in Chinese foreign relations since the end of the Cold War, Robert G. Sutter provides a nuanced analysis that shows that despite popular perceptions of its growing power, Beijing is hampered by both domestic and international constraints. This text's balanced and thorough assessment shows China's leaders exerting more influence in world affairs but remaining far from dominant. Facing numerous contradictions and tradeoffs, they move cautiously as they deal with a complex global environment.