A 'Friendly Elephant' in the Room? The Strategic Foundations of China's Multilateral Engagement in Asia

This article examines the link between China's grand strategy and its participation in multilateral organisations in Asia. It argues that Chinese multilateralism arises because multilateral organisations provide a highly effective mechanism for China to achieve its strategic objectives and not indicative of a more fundamental commitment by Beijing to promoting multilateral engagement on transnational issues more generally. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, ASEAN Plus Three, the East Asia Summit, Six-Party Talks and the South China Sea disputes are used to highlight both the continuing importance of unilateralism/bilateralism in Chinese grand strategy and the complex nature of Beijing's multilateralism.