Search

The article offers the author's insights on the tributary system and the centrality of the basic idea for diplomacy in China. The author argues that the country's situation as the central kingdom of Asia is more basic to its external relationships than its power asymmetry. He discusses Zhou Fangyin's argument on the equilibrium analysis of the tributary system. He also explores the relationship between China and Vietnam from the Song dynasty to the Qing dynasty.

An essay is presented on the ideational and material explanations in the Qing Dynasty diplomatic transformation. It determines the behavioural adjustments were as a result of ideational or material factors and explores the basis of changes in Qing dynasty foreign policy. It also mentions on the changes in the ideas significant role on any determination of behaviour as material factors.

An essay is presented on the rationalist approach within the academic field of international relations (IR) generally cites power and interest as primary cause for determination of the external state behaviour. It believe that ideas are important variable, equal in significance to the power and interest in interpreting the state behaviour of the Qing Dynasty. It also mentions on the government's external outlooks and ideas, pinpoint on the various specific stages of changes.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various essays within the issues on topics including game theoretic approach, the foreign threat on Chinese and Indian Nationalism and the diplomatic transformation of Qing dynasty.