Those aspects of today's China I consider basic to a proper understanding of that country now, and which I also believe will persist into the foreseeable future–possibly -to the end of the century–are the following:

• China is now more "China" than at any time since 1949, but by no means less socialist for that.

  It is embarked on a path that will probably make it the most significant economic and politico-cultural power in the Asia/Pacific Region by the turn of the century.

  In its handling of its foreigjn relations China is moving away from some recognizable patterns of the past and developing a character tjiat will make it both easier and tougher to deal with as times goes on.