China's challenge to the US in Asia

Iuri Minadze

Master's thesis

China's challenge to US in Asia

Abstract:

This thesis is about China’s challenge to the USA in Asia. China as a developing power, in order to protect its own national interest, competes against the United States of America, which is a hegemon power. The thesis is focusing on South China Sea disputes, where China shows its muscles by building islands and the USA contradicts and using international law (UNCLOS). Rivalry in the South China Sea between great powers starts from 2010. Countries like Vietnam, Philippine and other ASEAN member states from Southeast Asia became involved in this competition. This thesis shows that ASEAN countries try to keep their organization in this chaotic rivalry between great powers and try to survive to search for the balance. Some of these countries are Bandwagoning in the case of India, Vietnam, Indonesia they are allied with the USA in order to keep down China’s rise. China’s approach concerning ASEAN is based on the principle of‘triple avoidance’. Not to neglect vulnerable neighborhoods, not to be scared of them and not to be around by less friendly states. Southeast Asia becomes a strategic ‘’battlefield’’ between the USA and China. USA and China are rivals in the whole world, however here I am focusing only on Asia. The South China Sea is not only the place, where these two powers compete. One of the main flashpoints between these powers was Taiwan Strait from 1996-2008, which could make war between these powers, but after the election of a new government situation there changed. Korean Peninsula was also one of the main battlefields between China and the USA historically when both of them became indirect competitors in the Korean War. And nowadays North Korea remains a country, which is not well-wishing for the USA because of its regime, however, North Korea is fully supported by China that’s why it is also involved as part of the competition between these powers in Asia. Another strong Asian country is Japan, which is involved in this competition. Japan was confused with whom to ally despite its historical relations with China. However, the event, which took place in the 2010 Senkaku crises and crises in 2012 in the East Sea made Japan think with whom to be more closer ally. Japan plays a delicate role in US-Chinese duplex and it has no choice rather than to be involved in smoldering conditions in the SCS, where it does not have any territorial pretensions.

Abstract:

This thesis is about China’s challenge to the USA in Asia. China as a developing power, in order to protect its own national interest, competes against the United States of America, which is a hegemon power. The thesis is focusing on South China Sea disputes, where China shows its muscles by building islands and the USA contradicts and using international law (UNCLOS). Rivalry in the South China Sea between great powers starts from 2010. Countries like Vietnam, Philippine and other ASEAN member states from Southeast Asia became involved in this competition. This thesis shows that ASEAN countries try to keep their organization in this chaotic rivalry between great powers and try to survive to search for the balance. Some of these countries are Bandwagoning in the case of India, Vietnam, Indonesia they are allied with the USA in order to keep down China’s rise. China’s approach concerning ASEAN is based on the principle of‘triple avoidance’. Not to neglect vulnerable neighborhoods, not to be scared of them and not to be around by less friendly states. Southeast Asia becomes a strategic ‘’battlefield’’ between the USA and China. USA and China are rivals in the whole world, however here I am focusing only on Asia. The South China Sea is not only the place, where these two powers compete. One of the main flashpoints between these powers was Taiwan Strait from 1996-2008, which could make war between these powers, but after the election of a new government situation there changed. Korean Peninsula was also one of the main battlefields between China and the USA historically when both of them became indirect competitors in the Korean War. And nowadays North Korea remains a country, which is not well-wishing for the USA because of its regime, however, North Korea is fully supported by China that’s why it is also involved as part of the competition between these powers in Asia. Another strong Asian country is Japan, which is involved in this competition. Japan was confused with whom to ally despite its historical relations with China. However, the event, which took place in the 2010 Senkaku crises and crises in 2012 in the East Sea made Japan think with whom to be more closer ally. Japan plays a delicate role in US-Chinese duplex and it has no choice rather than to be involved in smoldering conditions in the SCS, where it does not have any territorial pretensions.

Keywords

China, USA, Competition, ASEAN, South China Sea

Keywords

USA, China, Competition, ASEAN, South China Sea

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 18. 6. 2019

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 26. 5. 2020
• Supervisor: Jeremy Alan Garlick
• Reader: Fangxing Qin

Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze

Master programme / field:
Mezinárodní ekonomické vztahy / International and Diplomatic Studies