The changes that took place in Chinese society after the Reform and Opening Up provided the impetus for change within Chinese foreign policy making. These two shifts manifested in two closely related ideas, “economy first” and “increased integration into the world system”. This essay investigates these concepts from three levels: the basic goals of Chinese diplomacy, the mechanisms behind this diplomatic strategy, the tools of this strategy.  The author explores the conceptual framework of “economy first” and “increased integration into the world system”, finding that the limits of this framework must be demonstrated, lest the complexity of China’s diplomatic strategy and relationship with Asia be oversimplified and misunderstood.