Summary
Marco Perez Jr. Week Four Posting
The rising state of China over time has become a prominent problem for the United States. Whether it was economically, politically, or military China has been growing rapidly in comparison to the growth of the United States in the world arena. The United States’ foreign policy toward China in the South China Sea, its public recognition of Tawain, and anti-communist ideas have caused a security dilemma for China. This is evident in Andrew Scobell’s article “The South China Sea and U.S.-China Rivalry”. The article is about the South China Sea, a key strategic position for China, and its relevancy to the United States of America from a geopolitical perspective. Mr. Scobell highlights US-China relations stating “By “rivalry,” I mean an antagonistic relationship between two states embroiled in “long-term hostility” and competition manifested in ‘multiple disputes, continuing [policy] disagreements and the threat of the use of force’”. (Scobell, 2018) This quote supports that China believes there is a security competition with the United States of America by creating military deterrents. The security competition as highlighted in the quotation is one of force capabilities. These force capabilities are military capabilities such as the creation of a nuclear bomb program. An example of this was evident when Qian Xuesen whom China sent to study in America to understand the secrets of harnessing nuclear energy to be consolidated in a bomb was discovered.
Another factor that plays into tensions, as Julian Gewirtz argues in her article “China Thinks America is Losing”, is China’s perception of the US under the Trump administration. Former President Donald Trump practiced overtly tactics to attack China starting from his words on the bully pulpit to actual foreign policy decisions. Examples of these actions are Trump’s Trade War, his technological bans/tariffs on Chinese products, and the public blaming of China for mishandling the COVID-19 virus. During his administration, China was able to confirm its suspensions that the US was actively attempting to stop China’s rise to power. It also influences China to believe Trump’s radical/frantic behavior is an indicator that the US is declining faster than they thought. This has caused China to be more resilient when attempting to supersede the US as the new hegemon of the world. In order to undo such aspirations the United States must change China’s political elites/decision makers’ perception of itself. Many argue the civil unrest in the US, its ever-changing leadership, and its highly polarized atmosphere might make an attempt to undo China’s belief the US is declining impossible. I pose the question to the class do you think China’s rise can be reversed or has the US’ time as the hegemon come to an end?
One reply on “Marco Perez Jr. Week Four”
Marco,
A wise person I knew when I worked in the U.S. Government once said: “If you treat China like an enemy, it will become one.” He was quite right about this. Just as we demonized the Soviet Union during the Cold War, the media and others demonize China today. But that said, China is at least partly responsible for this demonetization. They are clearly flexing their military and political “muscles,” and they have acted aggressively toward neighboring countries. So it becomes hard to determine what is the “chicken” and what is the “egg”–meaning, do we consider them a threat because of their behavior, or is the way we approach and talk about them turning them into a threat? In all likelihood, it is partially both.
Whatever the cause(s), the U.S. must adapt rapidly to a new strategic reality in Asia– a “peer competitor” in the Asia-Pacific region. I am not sure that this was avoidable, but the actions and rhetoric of the Trump administration certainly did not help. –Professor Wallerstein