Chinese president Xi Jinping thinks China is like "the big guy in the crowd", with other nations naturally concerned about being pushed around.
But he insists China remains committed to peace and peaceful development, while upholding its core interests of sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
The president, addressing Australia's parliament on Monday, said China had experienced turmoil and war and would never subject any nation to the same ordeal.
"China needs peace," Mr Xi said.
China, with its booming economy and growing military power, is an emerging rival to the US but its long-term strategic goals remain unclear.
In recent times China has taken a more bellicose stance in the South China Sea, escalating regional tensions over long-standing territorial disputes with regional nations.
President Xi said there were those with concerns about China and others who found fault with everything it did.
"It is like the big guy in the crowd," he said.
"Others naturally wonder how the big guy will move and act and be concerned that the big guy may push them around, stand in their way or even take up their place."
But what China needed most was a harmonious and stable domestic environment and a peaceful international environment.
Neither turbulence nor war served the fundamental interests of the Chinese people.
"We Chinese are committed to pursuing peaceful development and we sincerely hope that all other countries will do the same," Mr Xi said.
At the same time the Chinese people would firmly uphold the core interests of China's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
It was China's long-standing position to address disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights interests peacefully through dialogue and consultation.
"China has settled land boundary issues with 12 out of its 14 neighbours through friendly consultation. And we will continue to work in this direction," he said.
