US - Sino Relations

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses whether or not the current George W. Bush administration views China as a 'threat', with regard to the realist argument of a 'China threat theory'. The paper discusses the theory surrounding the concept of a 'China threat', identifies and discusses key issues in contemporary debate around the subject, and analyzes official publications from a variety of US governmental departments. The paper comments that despite there being some evidence to suggest that the United States does view China as a threat, these instances relate to very specific military scenarios involving a collapse in the status quo over Taiwan, or indirectly through China's proliferation to third parties. The paper concludes that the realist argument of a 'China threat' based on economic/militaristic growth, is unable to encapsulate the complexity of inter-state relations, and provides only a one-sided, often 'worst-case' scenario of US-Sino relations. Subsequently the paper criticizes not only the realist argument but also the western nature of the debate itself.




Outline:
Introductory Chapter
Introduction
Aims and Limitation
Structure
Research Method
Main Chapter
Literature Review
Theoretical Background
Realism, Containment and the 'China threat'
Liberalism, Engagement and the 'China threat'
Contemporary Debate
Documentary Analysis
Introduction and US Strategic Objectives
China's Global Economic Reach
Weapons/Technology Proliferation
The Taiwan Strait Issue & Military Expansion
Summary and Conclusion of Analysis
Concluding Chapter
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The method used to address the research question in this qualitative research is documentary analysis, and the reason why this method has been chosen is because official US government documents either directly state foreign policy, provide insight into governmental thinking, or provide assessment on the motives and capabilities of the Chinese government. Whilst it is important to recognise that documentation (no matter how official) 'construct particular kinds of representation using their own conventions', and are not necessarily objective facts, we can still apply validity to their claims by analysing them in the context of their 'organizational settings, [and] the cultural values attached to them'. Therefore, in analysing documents, it is possible to identify what the text establishes as relevant, what values are conveyed, and how these are related."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Baylis, J. (2001). 'International and Global Security'. In: Baylis, J. & Smith, S. eds. The Globalization of World Politics. 2nd. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp.253-276.
• Breslin, S. (2005). Power and Production: Rethinking China's Global Economic Role. Review of International Studies. 31 pp.735-753.
• Broomfield, E. (2003). Perceptions of Danger: the China threat theory. Journal of Contemporary China. 12 (35). pp.265-284.
• Brown, C. (1999). History Ends, Worlds Collide. Review of International Studies. 25 (Special Issue). pp.41-57.
• Burnstein, R. & Munro, R. (1997). The Coming Conflict with America. Foreign Affairs. 76 (2). pp.18-32.

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