Generally speaking, Beijing will seek to encourage those forces and trends that limit or attenuate U.S. influence and provide opportunities for China to increase its own standing. Regional powers do not wish to see the rise of a hegemon from within the region. Discussion of multilateralism not withstanding, the majority of regional analysts take a realpolitik view of international relations. There is a clear preference for an external presence with a level of comprehensive national power sufficient to balance any and all regional powers including China and, presumably, Japan. It is understood, that the external power would itself be balanced from within the region.
China is determined to achieve the status of a great power.
This mandates two imperatives. The first is building a world-class economy and military force. The second is the completion of national reunification, which involves restoring Taiwan and the disputed territories of the South China Sea to Chinese sovereignty. Participants agreed that Beijing is not likely to be deflected from either goal. There was a clear consensus that, once Taiwan was dealt with, the Chinese would turn their attention to the South China Sea.