China's Compliance with International Law: What Has Been Learned and the Gaps Remaining

Chinese willingness and ability to play by the rules in the global arena is a critical issue that has long loomed large on the academic and policy agendas. A substantial body of knowledge has been built in the past two decades, shedding considerable light on key dimensions of the question. However, there is an apparent need to fine-tune the approach pursued thus far by seeking greater methodological robustness and better theoretical elucidation. Data collection procedures must be anchored more firmly in principles of scientific inquiry, providing a solid empirical foundation for reliable and valid generalizations, and single-cause explanations need to be jettisoned in favor of multi-pronged approaches.