The tributary-state system was characterized by the enormous inequalty that existed between China on the one hand and its neighboring states on the other, together with a mutual belief in the superiority of Chinese culture. John K. Fairbank suggests in "The Chinese World Order" that: If its belief in Chinese superiorty persist, it seems likely that the country will seek its future role by looking closely at its own history. Given that the idea of Chinese superiority remains firmly in place, China's growing economic strength, together with its enormous population, could return the region to a not dissimilar state of affairs to that which existed in the past. China is in the process of becoming the most important market for virtually every single East Asian country. Nor is the huge imbalance in power necessarily one that other states in the region will balk at or resist, with the possible exception of Japan; indeed, all bar Japan and, until very recently, Taiwan have conscioulsy sought to move closer to China during the course of its rise rather than side with the United States against it. This is partly based on the habit and experience of history and partly on an accoummodation with what these countries view as an inevitable and irresistible process. The rise of China and a return to something more akin to a tributarty-state sysrem will not necessarily be distinguied by instabilty; on the contrary, the tributary-state system was highly stable, rooted as it was in China's dominace and a virtually unchallenged hierarchial pattern of relationships.

The tributary-state system was characterized by the enormous inequalty that existed between China on the one hand and its neighboring states on the other, together with a mutual belief in the superiority of Chinese culture. John K. Fairbank suggests in "The Chinese World Order" that: If its belief in Chinese superiorty persist, it seems likely that the country will seek its future role by looking closely at its own history.

Given that the idea of Chinese superiority remains firmly in place, China's growing economic strength, together with its enormous population, could return the region to a not dissimilar state of affairs to that which existed in the past. China is in the process of becoming the most important market for virtually every single East Asian country. Nor is the huge imbalance in power necessarily one that other states in the region will balk at or resist, with the possible exception of Japan; indeed, all bar Japan and, until very recently, Taiwan have conscioulsy sought to move closer to China during the course of its rise rather than side with the United States against it. This is partly based on the habit and experience of history and partly on an accoummodation with what these countries view as an inevitable and irresistible process.

The rise of China and a return to something more akin to a tributarty-state sysrem will not necessarily be distinguied by instabilty; on the contrary, the tributary-state system was highly stable, rooted as it was in China's dominace and a virtually unchallenged hierarchial pattern of relationships.