This paper will look at China in the international arena, focusing specially on its shifting foreign policy in the 1970s. Of all China's shifts in strategy, it is often argued that this one easily marked as the most important. For, it may have shifted the balance of power in the Cold War era and completely changed the face of international relations. Indeed, it will be shown that, though the shifts in Chinese policy in 1970 were unquestionably significant, taken in the course of the entire post-war era they were not completely unanticipated. In fact, it seems better to say that the quick move to side with the Americans was China's 'trademark' response in an effort to protect its own security interests. This assertion can only be understood with a greater understanding of China's post-war policy behaviour, to which the following section turns. 9 pgs. 21 f/c. 8b.
