This book, based on primary sources and field research, is the first of its kind to probe into the Chinese mindset to see how they perceive international relations. It analyzes the factors of power, Marxism, culture, and modernization that shape the Chinese thinking on international relations. It explores the Chinese understanding of state and interstate relations, discusses the merits of an "International Relations theory with Chinese characteristics," and assesses the problems and prospects of the development of international studies in China.