Introduction

Dr Brett McCormick and Dr Jonathan H. Ping, as co-editors, have developed the idea for this book, the thesis, and have undertaken the publishing process. This collaborative work has arisen from common academic enquiry, experiences and interaction with PRC citizens in a joint effort to address the question: ‘How do we think anew for our global future?’ Bond University Press has been instrumental in transforming the symposia into a published work. From the many discussed, the thesis of this book has emerged as the one to be published for four main reasons. Firstly, it takes advantage of years of field research in Beijing and China. Secondly, the interdisciplinary nature of the symposia (which have been predominantly—but not exclusively—attended by specialists in history, international political economy and international relations) provides for, is reflected by, and is benefited by the thesis of this book. Thirdly, the international, but crucially regional, location of the authors denote they are all concerned primarily with the Asia-Pacific littoral—all hailing from universities and colleges in the PRC, the US and the Commonwealth of Australia. Finally, and of greatest importance, has been the unique and informal access and interaction granted by senior Chinese military, government and academic individuals. In this, the Chinese individuals have all been given institutional support. This formal acquiescence was symbolised most strongly in 2006 when symposia attendees were the first group of foreign academics to be invited to visit the Chinese Foreign Ministry.