This Policy Analysis, authored by Rod Lyon and Christine Leah, examines the current debate over what sort of great power China is likely to become.  It looks at Chinese grand strategy, use of force, leadership style and domestic behaviour to gain a better understanding of China’s future role as a strategic actor.  It explores the possibility of a future bilateral strategic partnership between Australia and China, and identifies the issues that would be important to Canberra in concluding any such relationship. It urges a ‘clearer strategic relationship with China’ and an effort to identify the future ‘grand bargains’ that could underpin stability in a dynamic Asian security environment.