The Report to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China stated that “an examination of both the current international and domestic environments shows that China remains in an important period of strategic opportunities for its development, a period in which much can be achieved. We need to have a correct understanding of the changing nature and conditions of this period, seize all opportunities, respond with cool-headedness to challenges, and gain initiative and advantages to win the future and attain the goal of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020.”

A key point in grasping this critical strategic opportunity is to understand the changing environment of security around China’s neighboring areas. With the US reinforcing its Asia-Pacific strategy in recent years, tensions have escalated between China’s neighboring countries, directly influencing China’s national security and development interests. Analyzing and predicting changes of China’s neighboring security environment as accurately as possible will be an imperative and obligation for international studies researchers.

With strong support from the Shanghai Federation of Social Science Associations, the SIAS convened experts of international studies in Shanghai to evaluate China’s neighboring security environment in the next five years. Published in January 2013,Assessment of China's Neighboring Security Environment in the Next Five Years was well received by the International Department of the Central Committee of the CPC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Xinhua News Agency.