In the paper, the self-identity of China is conceived as being officially constructed into four faces: A socialist country with Chinese characteristics, a sovereign state in the strict Westphalian sense, a developing nation in the globalization era, and a potential responsible world power on the international arena. Among the constructing blocks of this identity, historical factors include two Complexes: the Central Kingdom Complex and the Strong China Complex. The contemporary factors consist of both international and domestic changes caused by globalization in the world and modernization at home, as well as by the end of the Cold War. In conclusion, it is argued that the four faces of China's self-identity implies a weak-strong power mentality of the foreign policy makers in China, and a security strategy that is basically lowest provocative possible and defensive in nature, unless involving issues of key national interests like that of Taiwan.
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