This chapter provides a critical review and analysis of how contemporary Chinese analysts, scholars, and policy-makers perceive and evaluate China’s international influence in developing Asia. It outlines the main goals and aspirations that Chinese policy actors have on the global and regional stage, and drawing on original Chinese language sources, finds that they perceive a significant gap to date between China’s growing power resources and its international influence. China’s ability to attain its key goals abroad falls some way short of domestic expectations relative to both its latent capabilities and to the influence of other great powers, principally the United States. The chapter also analyses Chinese explanations for this ‘under-achievement,’ examining both international and domestic factors.  Although there is some disappointment at this gap, Chinese experts are not dissatisfied with the status-quo and remain hopeful that its power resources will produce greater gains in international influence in the future.

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