U.s. Strategy In East Asia, China Factors (1989-2008)

On the occasion of the international system in transition, the East Asian regional order faces the pressure and momentum to reconstruct. From the geopolitical sense, the United States and China are regional major powers, the strategic interaction between the two countries is important to the reconstruction of the order. U.S. is the dominant power in the security field, a direct force of the situation through its alliance system and military presence. The rise of China is a new variable to the construction of the East Asian order , having an impact on the regional-level Sino-US relations and the U.S. strategy in East Asia. The analysis of the China factor of U.S. strategy in East Asia has important theoretical and practical significance on the deepening of Sino-US relations, China's regional strategic layout and the reconstruction of the East Asian order.The U.S. strategy in East Asia affects China's sovereignty, security and development in different forms. The research mainly discussed Sino-US strategic interaction in the regional level in the use of system theory. The Sino-US balance of power at the regional level will be illustrated by means of comparative analysis, the China factor will be sorted out of the U.S. strategy in East Asia with a comprehensive, interrelated and a development perspective. Under the background of the US strategy, the China factor is the focus of the study. The China factor will be mainly defined at three levels: First, Sino-US bilateral relations has regional significance, the United States foreign policices to other countries in East Asia are affected by the policy of Sino-US relations; Secondly, What kinds of China's position and role in the U.S. regional strategy, including against China's intention at the regional level and playing the "China card" to balance the regional strategy and domestic politics; Thirdly, China's strategic layout in East Asia affects the U.S. strategy. At the regional level, the positive interaction between Sino-US strategic becomes increasingly evident.This dissertation is divided into three parts to illustrate the China factor in U.S. East Asian strategy from the system and interactive perspective. The first part is to study the framework and background of the strategy, the evolution of structures and policies of U.S. strategy for East Asia; then the definition of the China factor is be expounded, interaction between the China factor and the United States is illustrated by means of political theory approach; case analysis of the three regions of the U.S strategy are made, including Taiwan, Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia.I examine the overall U.S. strategy in East Asia. East Asia is the region where the interests of four major powers intersect (Russia, China, Japan and the US). The U.S. security are related into the East Asia from geographical, economic and strategic terms. The U.S. adopts a multi-dimensional strategic implement in East Asia. Primacy strategy for keeping the region order and countering terrorism and regional threats; hedging and selective engagement for dealing with China; regional alliance and cooperative security strategies for treating East Asia Littoral countries. In short, the US strategic goal in East Asia is to accomplish its global interests, strive for regional leadership and attempt to diminish the intention and capability of regional great powers. Comparing changes and continuation of Clinton and Bush administration policy was the basis of an analysis of the structure and model selection of U.S. strategy in East Asia.Then, I evaluate the U.S. strategy in East Asia and China. China is a big country in East Asia. To engagement China is an important content of the the U.S. strategic in East Asia, strategy outside of China in East Asia can not fulfill without the China factor. Historically, China is the core of U.S. strategy in East Asia, China's strength determines the direction of U.S. strategy. To determine policy to China is the first step in the US strategic thinking in East Asia. After the Cold War, the China factor of U.S. strategy in East Asia is further complicated because of the ups and downs in the bilateral relations. China play a role in the United States regional strategic plan by two main ways: United States engage and "containment" China ; China is "a card" playing by the U.S. to adjust alliance and balance of domestic politics in the post-Cold. China's regional strategic layout affected on the U.S. strategy in East Asia to some extent and provide some implications.Finally, four cases study will be used to evaluate the relationship between the China factor and U.S. strategy in East Asia: Taiwan issue, Korea peninsula, U.S.-Japan Alliance and Sino-US comparison of soft power in Southeast Asia. Geographically, the U.S. strategy for East Asia is divided into North-East Asia and Southeast Asia. Northeast Asia, mainly being related to the US-Japan alliance as the core of the alliance strategy and the Korean Peninsula issue in the North Korean nuclear crisis flashpoints. After the Cold War, US-Japan alliance adjustment and the evolution of Sino-US relations have a certain contact in time, there is also the intention of the China factor. However, China is not a critical factor in the adjustment of the US-Japan alliance, mainly being affected by the historical background and the U.S. strategic culture . In Southeast Asia, the influence of China factor to the U.S. strategy is mainly reflected in the performance of China's soft power.Strategic interaction exists between the United States and East Asian order of reconstruction. The status and future of East Asian order is the results of Sino-US strategic interaction. The United States as a superpower hegemony in East Asia has always been incomplete, with pervasive and inclusive. As a geo-political power, China do not to seek a dominant position in the regional strategic plan, nor the wishes of the United States out of East Asia, however, the action to damage China's core interests by the United States in regional planning would be inevitable resisted by the Chinese. There is no collision of the Sino-US conflict of interest because of China's restraint and tolerance. To maintain peace and promoting development in East Asia are the common goal of both countries, the future regional order of the reconstruction requires both sides to change way of thinking.