After The Cold War Era The United States And Russia Trilateral Relationship,

The disintegration of the Soviet Union deconstructed the nearly five-decade old bi-polar international system, leaving the United States the only global superpower in the real sense of the term. Faced with the challenges of the great game in the post-Cold War era, every country has been adjusting their foreign policy in an effort to vie for a vintage position in the emerging international framework, a trend to which neither China, the United States, nor the Russian Federation is immune.Owing to its economic strength, international political influence, military preponderance, cultural appeal and leading edge in science and technology, the United States is indisputably a Titan second to none in today's world. While its over-all national strength has declined drastically following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russia, its heir, remains a major player both geopolitically and internationally. With its gradual recovery from the repercussions, Russia is bound to exert more influence in the international arena. The largest developing country, China now finds itself a hot topic centering on the rise of China. Its economic influence is beginning to make itself felt both regionally and globally. Consequently, it is inevitable that its mounting over-all national strength will give rise to a regional power center dominated by China. This, in due course, will bring shock to the current international power structure.Besides being located at least in part in the Asia-Pacific region, the most economically dynamic area in the world, China, the United States, and Russia are all permanent members of the UN Security Council and major members of the nuclear club at once. Thanks to these similarities, the three countries are endowed with a peculiar role, hence significant influence, in international affairs. Therefore, it is quite safe to say that no other international relationship is more crucial in shaping the future international power structure than the interactions among the three countries.The present dissertation puts China, the United States and Russia against the backdrop within the post-Cold War international framework. The author bases his argument on the realistic theory of national interests. Drawing upon balance of power theory, interdependence theory, and power theory, the author makes comparative and historical studies into the formation, evolution, and adjustment of the Sino-American-Russian triangular relationship, and the factors that have a bearing upon it. On such a basis, he puts forward the following arguments: The triangular relationship in the post-Cold War era is different in nature from that in the Cold War period. Therefore, the relationship is to be put in a new perspective and new methodology is to be applied to analyzing its trend. National interests are fundamental motives behind the formation, evolution, and adjustment of the triangular relationship. By nature, national interests are characterized by their perpetuity, fundamentally, mutability, and slippery priority. Both their definition and realization depend on a country's over-all national strength. Given these factors, the Sino-American-Russian triangular relationship is one based oncooperation, marked by perpetual competition and mutual vigilance. Itsdevelopment is doomed to twists and turns.The dissertation also attempts to come up with some constructive suggestions on how to maximize China's national interests through understanding and managing the triangular relationship.