As the current second-largest economy in the world and an emerging state that has the controversial capabilities of reshaping the world order, China’s rapid rise in economy and military might hence raise a puzzling question: Is this rise indicative of a strategic bid for regional hegemony that could challenge the U.S.-led Liberal International Order (LIO)? Building on theories from notable scholars, the paper consists of a qualitative research method that conducts both qualitative data analysis of Chinese naval military trends and interviews with prestige. Such a view creates and sheds light through the lens of the nature of a regional hegemon's activity in the LIO, which in turn helps to discuss whether China's rapidly growing power is aimed at regional dominance or supportive participation in the LIO. In essence, the purpose of this study is to argue that China’s rise economically and militarily does not truly pose a challenge to the U.S.-led LIO.