As tensions mount in East Asia, much has been written recently about China and its place in the world. China has emerged from its past difficulties to become a superpower in its own right, but many in the West harbour misconceptions about it. The news media in the West tend to report on the negative aspects of Chinese life, ignoring the great strides China has taken in achieving its goals. China as No. 1 controversially seeks to challenge the generally-accepted views of China perpetuated by the Western news media. Laurence Brahm's brilliant polemic sets out the political and historical background of today's China in great detail, and shows how China is taking centre stage in world politics and business. China as No. 1 describes the bases of China's recent reforms, and looks at how far China has come in achieving its goals for reform.

Detailed analyses of changes in macro-controls, internal structures, trade and monetary policy, amply demonstrate Laurence Brahm's arguments for the West re-thinking China, and support his prognosis for the future. Laurence Brahm is a lawyer and political economist, specialising in structuring and negotiating investments on behalf of multinationals. He has written extensively on China's legal, financial and monetary reforms . Concise outline of modern Chinese history 2. Presents scenarios for the future of China.