Question OneThe three factors that have affected relations between the United States and China are international trade, human rights and security. Competition between the United States and China is based on two reasons. The first reason is the change in political power between the United States and China while the second is the relative decline in the influence of the US. China’s national strength has been increasing over the past few years and it is expected that China’s gross domestic product may be higher than US’s by 2025. This has affected US’s hegemony and has affected the nature of US relations with traditional partners like Japan and Australia. China’s ascendancy has led to emergence of other Asian powers, such as India that has experienced tremendous economic growth over the past few years (Tripathi, 2011).
China’s ascendancy has resulted in decline in US’s international control and influence. The trade and economic cooperation that the US has had with Japan and South Korea have not been as economically beneficial to the US as they used to be a few decades ago. In fact for Japan, this has helped to increase flexibility in Japan discussing military engagement with the United States (Auslin, 2012). These nations do not have to depend on the US market for exports. China has an equal large population that provides market for South Korea, Australia and Japan’s products. This happens despite the US deepening cooperation and coordination with its allies, such as South Korea, Australia, Japan, Thailand, and Philippines. The United States is also deepening relations with other nations, such as Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
China is increasingly expanding its economic structure in order to better distribute economic interests to the population. This has helped in the fast growth of the nation into a manufacturing nation thereby creating more employment opportunities for the citizens. China has therefore increased its ability to export capital to other nations, such as the United States (Rudd, 2013). Foreign investment exists in form of foreign reserves and foreign direct investments. Many Asian nations have not had to depend on the United States’ investors for the provision of foreign direct investment due to the alternative provided by Chinese investors.
Question Two
The first important foreign policy issue is improving domestic and regional security (Horta, 2012). There has been pervasive friction between different countries including between China and Philippines, Japan and China, India and Pakistan. The nations also need to protect themselves against external aggression of terrorists. The other important foreign policy issue is North Korea nuclear weapon program. The aggression from the nations may lead to war and involvement of South Korea resulting in use of nuclear war may result in very adverse consequences to the victims.
The issues will mainly be “quieter” issues because the nations would not want other nations and entities to understand the strategies they are implementing to improve their domestic security. The North Korea nuclear program or policy will also be a quiet program because it raises political temperatures.
The states that will be involved in these issues include China, Philippines, Japan, North Korea, India, Pakistan and Indonesia.
The nations in Asia are exposed to highly explosive Asia that has caused the Asians nations to be wary of one another. The actions of Russia and other important source reflection may be a social issue which is best answered under some set of instructions. The United States has also been involved at increasing commercial and domestic primary significance for forests.
Russia’s role to mediate the North Korean crisis is not credible. The reason for this is that Russia is filled with interests to grow its commercial and geo-political influence in Asia. Russia’s entry in Asia is likely to affect China’s influence in the region and reduce the efforts that China has made to manufacture weapons because Russia will provide alternative sources of weapons (Schneider, 2012).
- Auslin, Michael. “Japan Awakens.” Foreign Policy. http://foreignpolicy.com/2012/05/02/japan-awakens/ (Accessed October 9, 2017).
- Horta, Loro. “China Turns to the Sea: Changes in the People’s Liberation Army Navy Doctrine and Force Structure,” Comparative Strategy, 31, no. 5, 393-402, DOI: 10.1080/01495933.2012.711117
- Rudd, Kevin. “Beyond the Pivot: A New Road Map for U.S. – Chinese Relations. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2013-02-11/beyond-pivot (Accessed 9 October 2017).
- Schneider, Mark B. “Russian Violations of Its Arms Control Obligations,” Comparative Strategy 31, no. 4 (2012): 331-352. doi: 10.1080/01495933.2012.711115
- Tripathi, Amitava. “Prospects of India Becoming a Global Power,” Indian Foreign Affairs Journal, 6, no. 1 (2011): 58-69.
