China's Politics Towards Northeast Asia After 1990

A far reaching debate reexamined the options for Chinese foreign policy in the rapidly changing global context of 1989-1992. Responding to the end of the Cold War, Chinese turned to regionalism. On the one hand, they boosted ties to Japan, South Korea, and areas in Southeast Asia, while opening borders wide. Beijing made an offer to Moscow based on great-power reasoning, while extending generous aid to North Korea as a balancing force. The search continued for ways to balance regional as well as global relations. Beijing was looking in all directions to cope with a radically changed environment in Northeast Asia. The collapse of communism in Soviet Union left a sense of isolation followed by concern that the breakup of that country would create a vacuum along China's northern and western borders. Accepting the general direction of global economic integration and increased regional trade and investment, Deng Xiaoping encouraged more localism as a way out areas smarting at wide inequalities at home but eyeing new cross-border opportunities. The post-Cold War era will bring new security situation to the Northeast Asia.Although China has been seen as a rising power with global significance in the post-Cold War world, its security relies heavily upon maintaining good relations with neighboring countries in the Asia-Pacific region. A Chinese strategist, Wu Xinbo, admits that although China has a great power self-image, it does not have adequate strength to play the role commensurate to this self-image. Therefore, China is still a country whose real interest lies mainly within its boundaries, and to a lesser extent, in the Asia-Pacific region where developments may have a direct impact on China's national interests…. In terms of national interests and resources, it is fair to say that China is a regional power with some limited global interests. This paper will examine China's policy change in Northeast Asia region in terms of power balance, national interest, changed political situation and new era challenges.