| The quick rise of China has been a heated topic for American scholars since the start of the new century. Through the research of scholars, mainly from representative think tanks, we can find clues for reading American policies. Applying textual approach, I will make a research on eight representative books of American scholars on China under the theoretical framework of realism and neoliberalism in international politics. I draw the conclusion that there are both differences and similarities among their understanding and analysis of China.Their similarities lie in their reading of the characteristics of China and the nature of Sino-U.S. relations, as well as their recommendations for American policy toward China. American scholars fear that China may challenge America’s global hegemony. They have long been cautious on China’s rise, but they would not advocate stern policy toward China if China’s rise falls within an acceptable realm. Until after the global financial crisis, as America’s economy was not satisfactory while China keeps its steady developing pace, the mood of fear becomes prevalent among American scholars.From a study on the eight books(reports), we can see that American scholars’ arguments on the danger of China’s political and ideological difference are vague and empty. Their priority is China’s economy, which is often referred to as "China Model".Their recommendations for America’s China policy involve three parts:to enhance partnership with its allies in the region, to increase American influence and leadership in regional institutions and to strengthen its own hard and soft power. The major difference among them lies in their inclination in the recommendations. Some of them are more inclined to engagement strategy which highlights soft power while others are more inclined to constraint strategy which highlights hard power.After the textual research, I adopt qualitative approach to make a comparative study between American policy toward China in the recent decade and American scholars’view on China. I find that the basic view of American politicians and scholars on China are highly identical. Most of the scholars’ recommendations have been carried out by the Obama Administration, showing the close relationship between American think tanks and government policies and proving the actual significance of the textual study for reading Sino-U.S. relations.Today China’s rise is an inevitable trend. In American experts’future analysis of Sino-U.S. relations, China Model will keep being a core factor. If China’s model keeps proving to be successful, America will feel more challenged thus it may exert more pressure on China. Besides, American economic condition will also have a deep impact on Sino-U.S. relations. Today the U.S. is still influenced by the financial crisis. If in the future, its economy can move from recovery to development, it is very possible that the U.S. will be more confident thus feeling it is in a better position to counter China’s rise. And if the U.S. economy cannot move ahead quickly while China’s economy progresses, it will feel more challenged and threatened. The pressure may make it to create more troubles for China. Thus in the foreseeable future, no matter whether the U.S. economy can develop or not, Sino-U.S. relations will have difficulty. An increasingly alarmed United States, worried by China’s greater voice in shaping regional and international affairs, is very possible to become more willing to run higher risks of some kind of confrontation with China. However, politicians from both sides agree that war is not inevitable between the U.S. and China. So it is necessary for both sides to make greater effort to bring dispute and conflict under control and build a new type of power relations. |
PDF Full Text Request