China's Perception of Risk and the Concept of Comprehensive National Power

Abstract

This article approaches the concept of risk from a Chinese perspective and traces its evolution throughout the history of Chinese thought, from the classics to the present. It analyzes underlying elements that have given rise to its current form, in comparison with elements of the same concept in the West, and describes how the perception of risk has helped shape the guidelines of China's ongoing transformation, as in the case of 'peaceful development' and a 'harmonious world'. It identifies the main domestic and foreign risks that threaten the sustainability of China's development, and discusses the concept of 'comprehensive national power'.