Includes bibliographical references and index.

The fallacy of unresisted aggrandizement -- Premature assertiveness -- "Great-state autism" defined -- Historical residues in Chinese conduct -- The coming geo-economic resistance to the rise of China -- China's aggrandizement and global reactions -- The inevitable analogy -- Could China adopt a successful grand strategy? -- The strategic un-wisdom of the ancients -- Strategic competence: the historical record -- The inevitability of mounting resistance -- Why current policies will persist -- Who will resist? Australia: weaving a coalition -- Japan: disengaging from disengagement -- Defiant Vietnam: the newest American ally? -- South Korea: a model Tianxia subordinate? -- Mongolia: northern outpost of the coalition? -- Indonesia: from ostracism to coalition? -- The Philippines: how to make enemies -- Norway: Norway? Norway! -- The three China policies of the United States -- Conclusions, assumptions, findings, predictions, envoi.