Ten Myths About China
And Why They Matter for the Twenty-First Century
An elucidating and deftly written rebuttal of what the West repeatedly gets wrong about China—and why that matters.
Description
With America’s long-unrivalled global primacy now fraying, the world fixates on China, torn between hopeful speculation and persistent misjudgements of its global role.
After forty-two years serving within key Chinese decision-making bodies, Zhou Bo brings rare insider authority to unpack and dissect ten enduring, widely held narratives that shape misunderstandings about China. These contested myths fill academic papers and front-page international news: predictions of an imminent Pax Sinica; claims that China seeks to oust the US from the Indo-Pacific; alleged fixed timelines for reunification with Taiwan; purported military alliances with Russia and North Korea; and ambitions to attain nuclear parity with Washington. Beyond untangling these popular conceptions, Ten Myths About China also offers a compelling exploration of how the People’s Republic of China will look by its 2049 centenary, examining its prospects for national rejuvenation. Zhou also examines China’s culture- and policy-rooted diplomatic approach to stabilising the global order, supporting developing nations and brokering cross-border peace through paths distinct from those adopted by major Western powers.
Free from biased hearsay, this firsthand analysis provides vital insight for anyone seeking to understand today’s rapidly shifting multipolar world order.
Author(s)
Zhou Bo is a senior fellow at Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy and a senior colonel (retired) in the People’s Liberation Army. He has an undergraduate degree from Air Force Engineering University, Xi’an, an MPhil in International Relations from the University of Cambridge, and has also studied at Harvard University and the University of Westminster. His books include Should the World Fear China? and Ten Myths About China (both published by Hurst).
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "Ten Myths About China" about?
With America’s long-unrivalled global primacy now fraying, the world fixates on China, torn between hopeful speculation and persistent misjudgements of its global role.
After forty-two years serving within key Chinese decision-making bodies, Zhou Bo brings rare insider authority to unpack and dissect ten enduring, widely held narratives that shape misunderstandings about China. These contested myths fill academic papers and front-page international news: predictions of an imminent Pax Sinica; claims that China seeks to oust the US from the Indo-Pacific; alleged fixed timelines for reunification with Taiwan; purported military alliances with Russia and North Korea; and ambitions to attain nuclear parity with Washington. Beyond untangling these popular conceptions, Ten Myths About China also offers a compelling exploration of how the People’s Republic of China will look by its 2049 centenary, examining its prospects for national rejuvenation. Zhou also examines China’s culture- and policy-rooted diplomatic approach to stabilising the global order, supporting developing nations and brokering cross-border peace through paths distinct from those adopted by major Western powers.
Free from biased hearsay, this firsthand analysis provides vital insight for anyone seeking to understand today’s rapidly shifting multipolar world order.
Who wrote "Ten Myths About China"?
"Ten Myths About China" was written by Zhou Bo.
Zhou Bo is a senior fellow at Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy and a senior colonel (retired) in the People’s Liberation Army. He has an undergraduate degree from Air Force Engineering University, Xi’an, an MPhil in International Relations from the University of Cambridge, and has also studied at Harvard University and the University of Westminster. His books include Should the World Fear China? and Ten Myths About China (both published by Hurst).
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