The book emanates from the geopolitical and geo-economic churning and transformations set in motion by the unprecedented economic rise of China resulting in its expanding political influence across the region and the world. In both the economic and the security realms, the United States and China alike are increasingly seen contesting in shaping the Indo-Pacific regional order to their own advantage. 

This book unfolds the contours and dimensions of China's responses to various multilateral initiatives of the US and its friends and allies like Japan, Australia, and India and, to some extent, even ASEAN. While China's medium-term strategy envisages a non-hostile external environment in order to focus on domestic priorities; reducing dependence of littoral nations of the Indo-Pacific region on America while increasing their engagement and dependence on China. China's expanding reach and influence overseas has resulted in US-led initiatives being China-focused inviting a response from China where adverse reactions have become increasingly palpable. 

Prof Swaran Singh is professor of diplomacy and disarmament at Jawaharlal Nehru university (New Delhi) and currently visiting professor at University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada). He is fellow of Canadian Global Affairs Institute, Adjunct Fellow of The Charhar Institute (Beijing) and president of Association of Asia Scholars (asiascholars.in).

Prof. Reena Marwah is professor of international business in Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi. She is the recipient of several international consultancies, awards and fellowships. She is Secretary General, Association of Asia Scholars (asiascholars.in) and founding editor of Millennial Asia, an International Journal on Asian issues.