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This paper attempts to develop a theoretical framework that associates 'socialization' with the English School's elaboration of 'international society' and then applies it to the assessment of China's socialization in East Asian international society in post-Cold War era by using two indicators, namely internalization and institutionalization. Case studies, on the one hand, indicate that China has highly internalized regional common interests and rules into its political discourse. On the other hand, China has a high degree of institutionalization regarding with South China Sea dispute while remain a relatively low degree in dealing with the Taiwan issue. China tends to settle the dispute over Taiwan unilaterally. However, by examining recent trends, China has implicitly accepted US role in cross-strait relationship and also has downplayed the use of force as an instrument by enhancing its economic ties with Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]