China and the International Legal Order: Introduction to the Symposium

China’s economic growth, expanding political influence, and strategic initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative, challenge the existing paradigms of international law and transnational legal ordering. As China increasingly asserts its interests and perspectives in international, regional, and bilateral forums, it catalyzes debates on sovereignty, human rights, economic relations, and private law, potentially reshaping the contours of international and transnational legal discourse and practice. While the debates are still ongoing, a sizable body of literature has already emerged. Some argue that China’s growing influence will negatively impact the liberal international legal order,  while others see China’s rise as a manageable challenge unlikely to undermine the foundations of the existing system.  In contrast, some scholars hold a more optimistic view, emphasizing the potential positive contributions China could make through its more active participation in reforming international law.  Recently, some scholars have taken an empirical approach, documenting China’s evolving policies toward international law and institutions.  Others, however, see international law as largely irrelevant in any China-driven shift of global geopolitics.