China and the International Legal Order

Forty years ago, China was one of the most isolated countries in the world. Today, it is a major player in international affairs, the leading exporter in a globalized trade regime, and an increasingly influential voice in regional security matters. At the same time, China retains a deeply ambivalent attitude towards many key aspects of international law and the architecture of global order.

The course will explore the ways in which China is adapting to or shaping the rules of international order. Topics covered will include: China’s historical engagement with international law and politics, the China-Taiwan-US triangle, Hong Kong sovereignty, China and the WTO, Chinese investment in the U.S. and other countries, the South China Sea, China’s role in international anticorruption efforts, Chinese relations with North Korea and Syria, international environmental law, and human rights law. Once a taker of global norms, China is increasingly a maker of norms more suited to its economic and political interests.