Since the beginning of the 21st century China has constantly stressed multilateralism as an important part of its foreign policy. This might be perceived as a significant shift from longtime favored unilateralism and bilateralism in conducting its foreign relations and a new pattern of action in China`s response to global affairs. This thesis examines the phenomenon of multilateralism in Chinese foreign policy, especially in terms of its main incentives and different interpretations. The hypothesis is based on assumption that China`s more active participation in the international organizations and increasing involvement in global affairs do not necessarily indicate China has embraced the concept of multilateralism entirely. In order to explore ambiguous dimensions of Chinese multilateralism, thesis focuses on China`s policy at United Nations Security Council. It concludes that the principal limitation of Chinese multilateralism is China`s strong adherence to the principle of state sovereignty, which has also affected China`s behavior as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.