China's economic, political, and military rise has reshaped its engagement in Asia, and it has reshaped the region's engagement with China. China has become the region's largest trading partner and the largest investor. It has adopted a more assertive stance over its territorial claims in disputed areas such as in the South China Sea.1 China sees itself as the largest developing country in the world that provides a new development model "for the common development of all countries" through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).2 It aims to provide new models for global security through the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and supports expansion of multi- and mini-lateral formats such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS Plus. China is seen across the world and in Asia as a main partner for tackling climate change through its globally leading renewable energy technologies. China emphasises its position, along with other developing countries,3 the need to address climate change proactively,4 highlighting how developed countries have historically had higher absolute and per capita emissions and have underdelivered on its promises for climate financing under the common but differentiated responsibilities framework. [...]