A Study On The Evolution Of American Perception On Northeast Asian Security In Post-cold War Era (1991-2012)

Recognizeing security environment is the starting point for United States to formulate anational security strategy. As the security situation in Northeast Asia has been changeing inthe post-cold war, the United States have to reexamine the security environment in NortheastAsia。Because it’s the basis for United States to formulate a new strategy in Northeast Asia.This thesis mainly studys the the evolution of American security perception on NortheastAsia after the Cold War.(From the George H.W. Bush administration to the to the first term ofObama administration).The first chapter mainly analyzes the American Security perception on Northeast Asiafrom the George H.W. Bush administration to the Clinton administration.This periodexperienceed a transition from Cold War to the post Cold War. In this period， as the thedisappeared of Soviet threat, the United States began to re-examine the Northeast Asia in amultiple security concept.In the perspective of American safety cognition，China changedfrom a political issue into a security threat；North Korea has been a potential military threatwith the advent of nuclear issue. In addition, though Japan and South Korea was Americanclosest allies in the Northeast Asia，they were reexamineed by America after the Cold War，especially Japan was considered as an economic security challenger by the Untied States.The second chapter mainly study the American Security perception on Northeast Asiafrom the George W. Bush administration to the first term of Obama administration. In thisperiod, with the grow of China’s economic, military strength, American administrationbegan to attach more importance on China. And its security perception on Chinaexperienced a transition from "strategic competitor" to a real challenger from the George W.Bush administration to the first term of Obama administration. Though the North Koreannuclear crisis still exists, both the George W. Bush administration and Obama administrationdidn’t regard North Korea as its core threat in Northeast Asia. Therefore, in order to dealwith China and North Korea, the United States has been to strengthen the US-Japan andUS-Korea alliances.The third chapter mainly analyzes the factors of the eveolution of American security perception on Northeast Asia. This thesis mainly analyzes the reasons form three aspectswhich includes cognitive subject-American national interests, cognitive object-powerstructure’s shift in Northeast Asia and the development of international situation. First of all,American evolution of security peception on Northeast Asia is drived by its core interests inNortheast Asia which is to dominate the northeast Asia’s security order. Based on the coreinterests, the Uniteds States constantly adjusts its security perception on Northeast Asia asthe change of its relative strength and the evolution of security environment in NortheastAsia.Secondly, American security Perception on Northeast Asia is affected by the changes ofpower structure in Northeast Asia, Which is the most important objective factor to affect theAmerican security Perception on Northeast Asia.Finally,the changes of internationalsituation is also an important factor to affect the American security Perception on NortheastAsia.To some extent,the end of the cold war,9/11attacks and the2008financial crisis allcaused the changes of American security Perception on Northeast Asia.