11/17/15

East Asia in a Global Context: The Cold War and After

Sino-US Relations
China is located across the Pacific but its important to understand China and
our relationship with them.
Chinas rising after the Century of Humiliation
How will this drama play out?
Will China try to overthrow the existing order?
What can the US do to maintain its status as the Super Power as China rises?
Is it possible for the US to let China or help them rise peacefully.
1) Questions to Consider
a) Is the American era coming to an end?
b) The descent of the West and a reorientation of the world toward
the East? (Niall Ferguson)
c) The Rise of China will Not Be Peaceful at All, We Should Fear the
Rise of China (John Mersheimer)
d) Will China try to use its growing influence to reshape the rules and
institutions of the international system?
e) The rise of Chinatension, distrust, and conflict?
f) Not peaceful will fear the rise of China.
g) Feature an increasingly powerful China on one side
h) Battle for rules of and leadership of the international system
2) The Rise of China and Implications of the U.S.
a) Friends or enemies
b) China as a formidable global power
i) The largest Population in the world.
ii) The economy has continued to grow since 2010
iii) Has become the 2nd largest economy in the world in terms of GDP
iv) Chinas leaders have become more assertive and has a stronger tie
with countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America
v) Modernizing Military
vi) Increasing Diplomatic leverage
vii) Growing Chinas influence in Africa, Europe, Middle East, Latin
and North America
c) The rise of China
i) (Why) does rising China pose a threat?
ii) Subconscious desire to think of China either good or bad.

d)

e)

f)

g)

iii) Bad because it is a dictatorship, bad products and economic

strength.
iv) Good because it opens itself up to modernization and new ideas.
v) Whats in it for the United States?
Where is Taiwan?
i) Taiwan Government represents main leaders for China.
ii) Mao and Khrushchev from Russia fought together during the Cold
War.
iii) China accepted Soviet model and Soviet aid.
iv) China argued how to interpret Marxist ideals into society.
v) Diplomatic China was isolated and making friends with the US would
serve as a counterbalance to the Soviet Union
Sino-U.S. Rapprochement
i) China and U.S. became friends starting in 1971. Between Chinese
leaders and Henry Kissinger, followed by President Nixon in 1972.
ii) Carter and Deng Xaoping formed a relationsip between the two
countries around 1979.
iii) The U.S. transferred Diplomatic recognition from ROC to PRC.
iv) One child policy. There is only one China and Taiwan is part of it.
v) Taiwan a strong anti-communist government.
vi) Washington insisted that any differences between China and Taiwan
should be resolved peacefully
vii) Under TRA the U.S. pledged to protect Taiwan against any forms
of corrosion or other acts to harm Taiwan.
U.S. Policy toward China: Changes and/or Continuities?
i) These changes were not possible
ii) The Bush and Clinton administration followed this pattern
iii) Clinton administration supported the three nos policy
iv) Not to recognize Taiwan as an individual state.
v) Not to support the Two China policy
vi) Not to support Taiwan as a full country in major organizations
vii) What changed President George W Bush China policy
viii)
Inviting China to be involved with this war on terrorism
ix) Since 2009 Obama administration tried to support China and gave
more of an agree to disagree philosophy.
What do we have in Common
I) Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula
II) The Reduction of tension across the Taiwan Strait
III) The prevention of terrorism
IV) Economic interdependence
V) Yet, differences remain!
VI) Beijings assertiveness vs. Washingtons desire to keep its
influence in Asia and beyond
VII) Washingtons frustrations with Beijings currency manipulation

VIII) Americas huge trade deficit with China

h) Sino-US economic and Trade Issues
I) (Why) is it a national security issue?
II)
China is the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt.
III)
What if?
IV)
Why havent they?
V)
Not a zero-sum game!
VI)
China has interest in the stability of the U.S. economy.
VII) What about the U.S. position?
VIII)