Chinese leaders have lengthy been enthusiastic about the U.S., yet have usually selected to demonize the USA for perceived cultural and armed forces imperialism. in particular lower than Communist rule, chinese language leaders have crafted and re-crafted portrayals of the us based on the wishes in their personal schedule and the regime's self-image -- usually seeing the United States as an antagonist and foil, yet occasionally taking part in it up as a model.

In China appears to be like on the West, Christopher A. Ford investigates what those depictions display approximately inner chinese language politics and Beijing's targets on the earth this day. specifically, Ford emphasizes the significance of China's "return" to international preeminence in country photos, which has turn into a vital thought within the regime's self-image and legitimacy. He additionally examines the heritage of chinese language highbrow engagement with the US, surveying the ways that chinese language elites have manipulated attitudes towards the USA, and revealing how leaders from Qing dynasty officers to Mao Zedong and from to Hu Jintao to Xi Jinping have altered and reconstructed this narrative to aid their very own political agendas.

Ford concludes the amount with a sequence of scenario-based choices for the way China's ways to figuring out itself and different international locations could evolve sooner or later. according to broad study, together with interviews with chinese language students and researchers, this groundbreaking examine is key examining for policymakers and readers looking to comprehend present and destiny Sino-American relations.