This book provides an overview on the contemporary political system of China, the world’s second largest economic power, one of five permanent members of the United National Security Council, and the only Communist Party-led authoritarian state in the G-20 grouping of major economies. By introducing some of the distinct features and governance challenges of China’s political culture, this book aims to help Congress understand the ways in which political actors in China interact, or in some cases, fail to interact, with implications for China’s relationship with its neighbours and the world. Also discussed is China’s formal political structures; and the diplomacy and human rights implications of Chinese legal advocate Chen Guangcheng.