American National Interests Regarding China - Assignment Example

American National Interests regarding China Three U.S. national interests in China may be set out as follows: (a) Maintaining its own military powerwhile also ensuring that the rise in Chinese military power is utilized to ensure world security and prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Vital interest. China’s growth in its military power is expanding; as its ability to defend its interests increases, its offensive powers are also on the rise, posing the threat of an arms race like the one U.S. had with the erstwhile USSR.1 Historically, China has not hesitated to use force even against more powerful adversaries when they perceive the opportunity to achieve strategic objectives.2 This poses a direct threat to the national interests of the United States, which according to Morganthau, are measured in terms of a state’s power; thus while the United States is merely intent on preserving its power and is pursuing a policy of preserving the status quo, China on the other hand, is pursuing a policy of imperialism because it is intent on expanding its power in the south east Asian region and challenging the United States supremacy3. Applying Morganthau’s criterion, the preservation of the national interests of the United States would be a vital one, because these interests extend overseas and it is presented with an expansionist state like China which is intent on amassing power and strategic interests through cooperation with European and Asian countries which could affect the position of the United States in these regions4. Survival is a State’s most important goal, and if the military interests and power of the United States are to be preserved, then it must exist as the hegemon of power. So far, the United States has decimated all the hegemons that rose to challenge its power and authority, including Imperial Germany, Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union5. China appears to be well on its way to developing into a regional hegemon in Asia, in which case it would seek to be the only regional hegemon and push the United States out of Asia. Moreover, China is also developing into a capitalist authoritarian state, and has the potential to develop into an authoritarian superpower. With its vital vote in the Security Council, it could play a much more significant role in dictating world affairs6. However, there are some signs that China intends to pursue a policy of cooperation with the United States, in order to promote its interests. As pointed out by Christensen7, China unexpectedly joined with the United States in condemning the actions of its erstwhile ally, North Korea in carrying our nuclear missile tests, which threaten world security. They have also supported Security Council resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea and urged the country to come forward to the negotiating table. Similarly, it has also supported the United States in condemning Iran’s nuclear activities. Despite the fact that President Bush deliberately excluded Premier Jiang Zemin and failed to pay a courtesy call to him after his inauguration, the latter responded courteously in April 2001 when an American plane caused the death of a Chinese interceptor and President Bush initially tried to intimidate China into returning the plane.8 The U.S-China relations are currently the best they have been in years, however China’s emergence as a regional hegemon, Taiwan as a sore point and the growing military power of China which is slowly working to place it on par with the United States, appears to indicate that a military conflict may be inevitable sometime in the future, to establish one or other nation as the supreme hegemon9. This falls under the category of defense of the homeland and protection from attack and therefore assumes the highest degree of importance. Hence, preserving and strengthening its military interests to preserve its national interests, security and survival is vital for the United States in the face of China’s rising political and economic power. (b) Maintaining the economic power of the United States in the Asian region by entering into a bilateral alliance with China. Important interest. China’s growing economic power has been acknowledged by several experts, who have pressed for bilateral alliances with China in order to ensure peace and stability in east Asia and improve trade between China and the United States10.(Negroponte, 2007). China’s economic power is growing with impressive economic growth in recent decades and if such growth levels continue, then it is likely that there will be a security competition with the United States11. While the United States economic policy has been based upon the capitalistic system which has emerged as the dominant socioeconomic system because of the advantages offered by the market system, China now poses a challenge, operating under an authoritarian capitalist regime which offers a viable alternative path to modernity12. Moreover, China is now shrewdly employing a soft approach to consolidate its political power, by utilizing its economic clout to extend cooperation to other nations and influence their national policies.13 While it has maintained friendly relations with the United States in order to access its vast markets, the danger in the growing economic clout of China is that it allows the country to develop its power in other areas and pose a direct threat to the power of the United States in the region, especially because of the differing ideology of the two countries. Moreover, it also poses a threat to American economic interests in the world. This issue this concerns the economic prosperity of the United States and ensuring its economic well being. Economic might also functions as a tool that allows acquisition of other powers such as legal, military and other powers, hence this interest is a very important one and must be preserved. (c) Preserving American values of democracy and human rights in the Asian region as well, so that it is not superseded by China’s policies which do not value democracy and human rights. Peripheral interest. America has traditionally valued democracy and the preservation of human rights. However, the liberal democracy propounded by the United States is being challenged by the authoritarian capitalist system of China. Democracy has been based upon the moral principles of freedom and human rights, which have guided political action14 in the United States, unlike China which has pursued non democratic moral principles all along. While the democratic world bloc has been larger than the relatively inefficient communist blocs comprised of the erstwhile USSR and China, the current situation is that China is gaining economic clout while also maintaining an authoritarian regime, with Russia following in its steps. With the vital votes that these two countries have in the Security Council, they could well shape world policy in favor of non democratic policies by encouraging more countries to adopt its authoritarian policies. This rises in direct conflict to the hitherto unchallenged supremacy of democracy over the globe and undermines the hope for liberal democracy.15 China has also refrained from condemning the abuse of human rights in Sudan and vetoed a UNSC resolution against Burma to stem the proliferation of weapons. It has a mixed record on the issue of human rights, and this is an issue of concern, since China as a world power must help to preserve world peace and democracy. This comes under the category of promotion of fundamental values and therefore is quite important. Read More