The rise of China in the context of offensive realism: The "Potential hegemon" argument against "Peaceful foreign policy" discourse

China, which has the world's second largest economy and most populous population, is making rapid progress in terms of military as well. In this direction, it continues to increase its influence in the international system, reaching the position of rising power of the 21st century. China, which basically gives priority to economic development, argues that it follows a peaceful foreign policy by emphasizing that it actively participates in the liberal international order in terms of its national interests. In this study, the rise of China is analyzed within the theoretical framework of Offensive Realism represented by John Joseph Mearsheimer, and the possibility of turning into a global hegemonic power is emphasized. The rise of China, which is the actor with the greatest potential in the struggle for hegemony, seriously threatens the global supremacy of the USA, which became a hegemonic power with the end of the Cold War. According to Mearsheimer, a peaceful rise is not possible for China, since there will be a security rivalry which has the potential for serious war between the United States which dominates the unipolar world order and the rising China. Despite its stable and rapid economic rise, China is not at a level to compete with the US in military, political and cultural fields. In addition, it has serious problems such as land disputes, especially the Taiwan problem and energy dependence. It expresses its rise as peaceful on the purpose of providing the appropriate environment in order to complete its rise in all areas and to solve its problems, and exhibits a cooperative approach by acting in harmony with the current conditions of the international order. In this way, it is expected to become aggressive in order to gain hegemony if it reaches a certain military and political capacity and reaches the power to challenge the USA.