There is an ancient saying in China, or perhaps a curse: "May you live in interesting times." 

We appear to be living right in the middle of very interesting times. From wars in Eastern Europe, to regime toppling in Latin America to the conflagration in the Middle East, the world appears to be on fire. 

What does China make of these events? How is it affected, given that some of the actors involved on the other side of this administration's actions are allies of China? Will these events delay or impede its rise to superpower status? And perhaps the most important question of all, how does it affect its relationship with the United States? 

Helping us understand the Chinese perspective is noted scholar and commentator on U.S.-China policies Dr. Shao Yuqun. Dr. Shao Yuqun is the director of the Institute for Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macao Studies and senior research fellow of the Center for America Studies. She is frequently called upon to provide the U.S. perspective to a Chinese audience and the Chinese perspective in the United States.