伴隨著中國的崛起，各種各樣的「中國威脅論」亦不斷出現，其中不乏以中國歷史上的朝貢體系爲例的，認爲朝貢體系是「中國稱霸」的體系，很多關於中國將要重建朝貢體系的論調也隨之而來，甚囂塵上，在東亞的日本、印度以及東盟一些國家也先後加入到鼓吹「中國威脅論」。本文僅從歷史經驗的角度做一淺述，且呼應台灣學者提出的看法：從現今中國大陸的政治與經濟所呈現的指標來看，貿然聲稱其「新朝貢體制」降臨，有欠嚴謹，因為「天下體系」作爲一種「理念型」的原則固然清晰，但歷史上其實踐經驗卻非常複雜，必需同時從歷史經驗、哲學基礎和當代案例三方面著手，缺一不可，否則難以確知朝貢體系的象徵性、儀式性特徵，究竟經過什麼轉折，才有現代意義。

With the rise of China, various discourses regarding “China threat” appear, which have historical tributary systems as examples from the past. Tributary systems are considered leading to Chinese hegemony—such discursive theories are credited to the notion that modern China will reconstruct its contemporary tributary systems, definitely. Eastern Asian countries such as Japan, India, and ASEAN nations have thus been proposing the idea of “China threat”. This paper tries to explore, from historical perspectives, ideas related to the notions mentioned above, and voice some propositions of Taiwanese scholars: The notion that Bejing will be the target of the newly-constructed Eastern Asian Tributary System is perfunctory, because the “under-heaven system”, as a discursive theory, is clearly portrayed though, its realization is complicated. Henceforth, three perspectives: historical, philosophical, and contemporary, should all be considered to make clear the symbolic and ritualistic qualities of such tributary systems, which must undergo some transformations to reach modern expectations and definitions.