| Chapter 1: | The Study |
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Chapter 1
The Study
1.1. A Brief Background
The central concern of this book is the construction of the realm of Chinese studies. The political significance of China (PRC) in the world has greatly increased in the past 2 decades. The introduction of the Chinese government’s open-door policy in the years following the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976 resulted in an economic takeoff in China that made many countries, such as the United States, Australia, and leading European countries, compete and strive for a share of the expanding Chinese market. These countries’ China policies are essentially determined and influenced by a mixture of factors such as regional security and economic, trade, and political advantage in accordance with the changing role of China in the world. Following China’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, the potential for perceived ever-increasing trading opportunities further stimulated interest and resulted in the expansion of trade with China by many British, American, and Australian companies.