This paper examines the evolution of China's participation in international security institutions, analyzing the relations between international security institutions and Chinese foreign policy, and exploring China's cooperative behavior from its diplomatic strategy This paper suggests that China adopts comprehensive participation in international institutions as an alternative strategy to advance its national interests, rather than military expansion of traditional rising powers. While China promotes its national interests and image through institutional involvement, the themes of its cooperative behavior, its expectations for world order and the impact of international institutions will be examined by its institutional strategy, cost-benefit calculations and a learning process.