Book Launch: The Dragon's Emerging Order: Sino-centric Multilateralism and Global Responses

Book Launch: The Dragon's Emerging Order: Sino-centric Multilateralism and Global Responses

From Asia Rising by La Trobe Asia

March 30, 2026 · 59 min

About this episode

The episode discusses China's emerging role in global politics through Sino-centric multilateralism and its implications for the future of global order.

China’s rise is often framed as a challenge to the Western-led international order, with attention focused on how Beijing works within — and pushes back against — liberal institutions. Yet a more consequential shift is underway. China is increasingly shaping global politics through new, Sino-centric forms of multilateralism, building parallel forums that operate alongside, and sometimes beyond, existing institutions. What is driving this strategy, and how do these new arrangements function in practice? How is China combining hard and soft power to expand its influence? And what does the spread of Sino-centric multilateralism mean for the future of global order? The Melbourne launch of The Dragon’s Emerging Order: Sino-centric Multilateralism and Global Responses, with editor Joel Ng. Panel: Dr Joel Ng (Head of the Centre for Multilateralism Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) Dr Alan Chong (Senior Fellow, Centre for Multilateralism Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) Dr Su-Hyun Lee (Senior Associate Fellow, Centre for Multilateralism Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) Professor Nick Bisley (Pro…

People in this episode

Host: Dr Mark Manantan

Guests: Dr Joel Ng, Dr Alan Chong, Dr Su-Hyun Lee, Professor Nick Bisley

Topics covered

  • Sino-centric multilateralism
  • China's global influence
  • International relations
  • Multilateralism
  • Global order
  • Soft power
  • Hard power

Keywords

  • China
  • multilateralism
  • global politics
  • international order
  • soft power
  • hard power
  • Sino-centric

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), La Trobe University

Books & works: The Dragon's Emerging Order: Sino-centric Multilateralism and Global Responses

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