The Military-Industry Complex During The Kennedy Period And Its Impact On China Policy

The subject of this thesis is the Military-Industry Complex during the Kennedyperiod and its impact on China Policy It provides detailed description and analysis ofUS Military-Industry Complex, and it specifically researches the developmenttrajectory of the Military-Industry Complex during the Kennedy period. In this period,Kennedy wanted to change some China Policy., but as a special interest group, theMilitary-Industry Complex deeply influenced the national strategy and diplomaticpolicies of the United States. Especially during the Kennedy period, considering inthis period Sino-US relations were both stiff and moderate, the Military-IndustryComplex took various measures to resist change in China Policy. Specifically, thisthesis can be divided into two parts:The first part is the introduction It explains the purpose and significance of theresearch, and narrates domestic and foreign scholars’ views on Sino-US relationsduring the Kennedy period. This part naturally provides the premise of the wholediscussion.The second part is composed of three chapters. Chapter one mainly elaboratesthe Military-Industry Complex. As a special interest group, US Military-IndustryComplex was formed under the special historical background. Military organizations,military enterprises, members of Congress and even the scientific communities werecombined with each other because of mutual interests. But after the Second WorldWar, for the national security, the link became stronger.Chapter two mainly narrates the development trajectory of the Military-Industryduring the Kennedy period. Although Eisenhower’s valediction warned people aboutthe detriment of the Military-Industry Complex, it developed rapidly during theKennedy period. and Military organizations gradually improved their relations.Chapter three mainly talks about the impact of the Military-Industry Complex onChina Policy during the Kennedy period. Kennedy wanted to change the earlier stiffpolicy to a flexible one. As the president who won the least percentage in Americanhistory, Kennedy was always under huge pressure. He behaved similarly on thesensitive China Policy. He remained a hostile attitude towards China as before, stood by Taiwan, and suppressed Chinese nuclear development plan. But except for keepingthe same as Eisenhower on the key principles, he tried to improve relations withChina in other aspects, which played an important role for the later food aid to Chinaand ambassadorial talks between the two countries. This is Kennedy’s China Policy:Containment but not Isolation.The Kennedy period was a time when the Military-Industry Complex enjoyed afaster development and a closer contact. It was also a period of the Cold-War. At thattime, in order to boost the military production and achieve more economic benefits,the Military-Industry Complex vigorously agitated for the China Threat Theory for itsown sake. Therefore, the Military-Industry Complex played a negative role inimproving Sino-US relations.