China’s foreign policy is often misunderstood or portrayed inaccurately in Western discourse, where it is frequently assumed that China's rise will mirror the hegemonic behavior of the United States. However, China emphasizes that its approach is distinct, grounded in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence: mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

Central to China’s vision is the concept of a multipolar world—a global order in which power is distributed more evenly and developing countries, particularly those in the Global South, have greater influence in international governance. This perspective contrasts with U.S. rhetoric, which typically omits explicit reference to multipolarity.

These themes are explored in a recently released book titled *China’s Foreign Policy and the Making of a Multipolar World — Changes Unseen in a Century*, edited by China experts Keith Bennett and Carlos Martinez. The volume, published by Praxis Press, includes ten essays by Chinese and international scholars analyzing China's foreign policy, its historical foundations, and its projections for the future. The contributors address contentious issues such as accusations of Chinese expansionism and concerns over the Belt and Road Initiative, which some critics characterize as a debt trap strategy.

Bennett and Martinez argue that, contrary to portrayals in parts of the West, China’s growing global role is not a threat but rather a hopeful development toward a just and peaceful world order. They highlight Chinese President Xi Jinping’s emphasis on the "profound changes unseen in a century," which reflect the collective rise of the Global South and signal the end of the unipolar dominance previously held by the United States following the 1990s.

Historian Ken Hammond provides a backdrop to China’s foreign policy by tracing its origins to the country's experience of imperialism during the "century of humiliation" after the Opium War, shaping its cautious and sovereignty-focused approach today. Another contributor, Jenny Clegg, elaborates on the enduring relevance of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in guiding China’s diplomatic conduct.

Former president of the Academy of Marxism at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Cheng Enfu, outlines China’s impact in multiple fields including science and technology, economic development, political influence, culture, environmental policy, and social welfare, illustrating the breadth of China’s global engagement.

In contrast to what the authors categorize as zero-sum, confrontational policies pursued by the United States, China promotes win-win cooperation and rejects efforts to rekindle a Cold War-like division of the international community. China's rise has notably eschewed military conflict, colonization, regime change, or covert operations over the past several decades.

The book underscores China’s conviction that countries with differing historical backgrounds, political systems, and cultures can coexist and collaborate, reflected in multilateral groupings such as BRICS. The analysis concludes that the global shift toward a multipolar order is both inevitable and aligned with China’s foreign policy goals, mirroring the aspirations of many countries worldwide.