The emerging Chinese Narrative on National Security is clearly expressed in Chinese-language publications, and in recent testimony Gilbert Rozman opined it is part of an" orchestrated, top-down expression of Chinese national identity." China, the author writes, has been intentionally deceptive; giving the impression of regional cooperation and being a" responsible stakeholder," while patiently building its ability to project soft power and manipulating relations with neighboring states in a direction favorable to China. China's narrative is more aggressive and at times belligerent, openly blaming the collapse of the six-party talks over North Korean aggression on the United States; referring to US and its allies' policy as cold war focused

This new narrative is in contrast to the Chinese narrative from the 80s and 90s which focused on admiration of the West and market reform. Rozman contends that the Chinese narrative has been carefully crafted and kept concealed until China's comprehensive national power had risen, just as recommended by Deng Xiaoping.