The emergence of China as an active participant in the worlds science and technology is attracting increasing attention.Chinas rise as a power in science and technology raises two fundamental questions.First,what accounts for the patterns of recent Chinese scientific and technological development? Second,to what extent is Chinese experience with the practices of research and innovation consistent with established international norms and procedures? This paper explores the recent history of Chinese scientific development and attempts to determine whether a dstinctive Chinese way of science is emerging and,if so,how it relates to establish international practice.