China’s leadership announced a few years ago that the concept of peaceful development would be the guiding principle of its national strategy. But its growing military strength in tandem with its economic power has given rise to controversies regarding Beijing’s real motivations and has also raised doubts about its transparency—particularly among China’s neighbours because of China’s ever increasing investment in military modernization.

This paper attempts to elucidate what this “peaceful development” concept means by exploring three main questions:

(i) What is the rationale and justification for the current concern and preoccupation of its neighbours with China’s rise and growth? After all, every country is entitled to its aspirations and to pursue a programme for its growth and strength. Why single out China for special concern or implicit disapproval?

(ii) How does this paradoxical dichotomy—peaceful development on the one hand and military empowerment on the other—support a political concept and process of engagement with the rest of the world on the basis of harmony?

(iii) How can the concept of “peaceful development” be reconciled, in terms of public perception and understanding, with the reality of active military buildup?