Chun Li in the Street Fighter Alpha series is portrayed as a young and determined Interpol investigator, driven by a deep personal mission to uncover the fate of her missing father and dismantle the international crime syndicate Shadaloo. Her background is rooted in a childhood where her father, a dedicated police officer, instilled in her a love for martial arts and a strong sense of justice. The defining event of her life is his disappearance, which she directly blames on the syndicate's mysterious and powerful leader, M. Bison. This loss compels her to join Interpol at the age of eighteen and begin an obsessive pursuit of the truth, setting the stage for her role in the Alpha series, which takes place before the events of Street Fighter II. A gifted child, she was also trained from a young age by Master Gen, an old acquaintance of her father, which further honed her fighting skills.

In terms of personality, Chun Li is generally cheerful and dedicated, but she becomes intensely serious and focused when on a mission or in combat. The memory of her father fuels her resolve, and she takes her work with Interpol very seriously, though she can sometimes become overworked and exhausted. She is competitive, especially with other female fighters, but is also capable of forming alliances and friendships. Her drive to get stronger is motivated by her experiences fighting powerful adversaries, and she holds a strong admiration for the warrior Ryu, whose own strength inspires her to improve her abilities. Her primary motivation throughout the Alpha story is to avenge her father. In her confrontation with M. Bison, she demands answers, but is easily defeated. Bison taunts her, implying he killed her father and warning her to stay away, an event that leaves her in tears and swearing vengeance.

Within the narrative of the Alpha series, Chun Li teams up with Charlie, a United States Air Force member, to track down Shadaloo. This partnership puts her at odds with Charlie's friend and fellow officer, Guile, who has orders to bring Charlie back. When Chun Li tries to use force to stop Guile from interfering, she is defeated, but she persists in her mission, insisting she and Charlie be left alone. Guile ultimately refuses to abandon them, and the three join forces. When they learn that Shadaloo has tricked the military into canceling a planned bombing of their main base, Chun Li takes the initiative to plant explosives herself while Charlie and Guile attack the facility from within. During the escape, she witnesses a group of young girls, including Cammy, fleeing the collapsing base. Despite the lack of initial evidence to prosecute Shadaloo, Chun Li and Interpol succeed in dismantling much of the crime empire. Her key relationships include her mentor Gen, who she holds in high regard despite his past as an assassin; her partner Charlie; and her eventual ally Guile.

Throughout the Alpha series, Chun Li is depicted as a promising fighter still refining her abilities. Her martial arts foundation is in Chinese disciplines such as Tai Chi and Chinese Kempo, with a fighting style that notably emphasizes powerful and acrobatic kicks. Her most famous techniques include the Hyakuretsu Kyaku, a series of rapid kicks also known as Lightning Legs, where she balances on one foot while delivering a flurry of kicks with the other. She uses the Kikouken, a projectile attack where she focuses her ki energy into her palms and releases it as an energy sphere. While she has yet to fully master the iconic Spinning Bird Kick during this period, a variant of the move, the Sen'en Shuu, demonstrates its development. Her agility grants her abilities like the Sankaku Tobi, allowing her to leap off walls for aerial advantage. Her speed and versatile normals, including effective anti-air attacks and overheads like the Axe Kick, make her a formidable and adaptable combatant who excels at both aggressive rushdown and defensive zoning tactics.