A quiet revolution has taken place in the
thinking and
practice of China’s diplomacy in confronting the transition of international politics and the challenge of transnational problems since 1979. This paper discusses the new diplomacy in Chinese foreign
relations. It argues that the new thinking in China’s diplomacy focuses on the idea of dealing with in￣creasing global and regional public issues based on
multilateral institutions, with the practice of China’s so-called new di￣plomacy being guided by the new thinking. The author points out that the practice of China’s new diplomacy leads to the emergence of a liberal China on the world stage, which includes a new understanding and adjustment in the concept of sovereignty, a unique governance structure based on multilateral institutions, the rise of social factors in Chinese foreign relations, and a Chinese socialization and institutionalization process during its participation in multilateral institutions. Fi￣nally, the author concludes that the rise of a liberal China will be of great significance to the formation of future political governance in East Asia, and even in the world.