當代中國政治領導人及公共知識分子努力營造中國是一個「負責任的大國」形象。雖然他們審慎地觀察外界如何期待中國，但是他們卻又未必願意滿足外界對於所謂「負責任」的定義。在全球化時代，外界總是關心中國是否能夠參與解決、減緩或預防各種全球治理問題。不過，不論是古典的或當代的中國政治思想，往往強調反躬自省，因此中國政府在體現對自身的世界責任時，幾乎無例外的都以中國能妥善處理與全球治理相關的內部問題為目標，以確保中國自己不成為全球問題為職志。相較於歐美發達國家勇於標舉全球治理的實質責任，北京領導人更關心如何分攤全球治理的責任，尤其在意全球治理不能侵犯各國的國家主權。這種防禦心態有其歷史背景，但是必須回溯中國的當代思想史脈絡，才能夠充分掌握中國政府對全球治理的消極情感及其相應主張。更符合中國思想史的全球治理，應該是全球「自」理。 這樣思維一旦養成，就超越了單純是為了擺脫強權干涉中國的動機，而進一步對當代全球治理的方法論形成挑戰。

Both the political leaders and intellectuals in China want to present the image of her being a responsible country in the world. Their understandings of responsibility are not directed at an external audience, although they closely watch what the latter expects of China. In the global age, the expectation is always about China’s contribution to conflict resolutions, and alleviation and prevention of global problems, whatever it may be. The Chinese political thoughts, classic as well as modern, are so grounded in their cultural and ideological background that their introspective nature determines that Chinese narratives on their nation’s duty in the world unanimously point to China’s responsibility for handling its domestic problems well enough to avoid causing global troubles. Xi Jinping’s widely circulated quote during his trip to Mexico in 2008 reveals a deep mutual misperception between Chinese narrators and China’s criticizers. For Xi Jinping and his colleagues, China has no intention to lead the world, or to provide the world any philosophical guidance regarding their future, or even to participate in initiating problem- solving regimes. The Chinese care more about the mode and process of global governance than any substantive value and goal of global governance. Specifically, the Chinese want to make sure that global governance does not infringe upon the national sovereignty of China. This defensive mentality which has a root in Chinese history of political thoughts prepares China’s unique style of global governance through self-governance. While this is a style meant to avoid rendering any excuse to other major powers seeking opportunities to intervene in China, once on track, its political thought underpinning inevitably challenges the prevailing liberalistic methodology of global governance.