Liberal theory – pursuit of cooperation rather than competitionThe chapter on China's peripheral diplomacy taken from a book entitled Chinese foreign policy: a Introduction, written by Marc Lanteigne, portrays Chinese diplomacy in liberal thought as the fundamental goal of China's involvement in East Asia is based on regional cooperation rather than competition. Liberalism, in a political context, is one of the main theories of international relations that aims for peace and cooperation in the international arena. Lanteigne notes that peripheral diplomacy, which prioritized relations with Asian neighbors through a series of foreign policy initiatives, began after the 1989 Tiananmen incident reported by Jiang Zemin. The principle inherent in liberal thought strengthens regional cooperation, driven by economic and political stability in East Asia, rather than competition. The reasons for peripheral diplomacy have been put forward as Beijing's attempt to become an indispensable partner, reassuring its neighbors that China would never regress into isolation and challenge the order, as was the case under Mao, for a modernized and responsible world. This chapter examines country by country and its explicit implication in relations with China. In the case of Japan, China is concerned about Japan's recovery in the market and the continuation of its alliance with the United States, while Japan is wary of China's development and the possibility of Chinese hegemony on the international scene. A significant dispute between the two states is that of the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands. Both states claim sovereignty over this territory and sometimes face aggressive conflicts. Above all other considerations, the most important driver of this conflict is economic gains. Studies suggest that the middle of a paper steps back from mistakes to learn and not commit the same wrongdoings again. It is for this reason that the future will reflect the actions of today and demonstrate the practical results of the daily positions taken today in international affairs. Interestingly, and not surprisingly, no one is supposed to know yet what the future would bring for this society even through China's contemporary actions. However, its future can serve as a useful tool, to give a more definitive and complete, if not the most vital and conclusive, answer to the debate of contrasting theories. Works cited • Lanteigne, Marc. Chinese Foreign Policy: An Introduction. Oxon: Routledge, 2013. • Manicom, James and Andrew O'Neil. “The Rise of China and Middle Power Democracies: Canada and Australia Compared.” » Asia-Pacific International Relations 12 (2012) 199-228. doi:10.1093/irap/lcs002