Instructions
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Foreign Policy Memo #1: Rise of China
Write a reflection memo (750-1000 words) on two assigned foreign policy papers (available on the attachment below.
• Jessica Chen Weiss. 2019. A World Safe for Autocracy? China’s Rise and the Future of Global Politics. Foreign Affairs 98 (4): 92.
• Xuetong Yan. 2019. The Age of Uneasy Peace: Chinese Power in a Divided World. Foreign Affairs 98 (1): 40.
Prompt: If you are advising the new administration, what would be your policy recommendations for the US strategy toward China in political and economic domains? What may be international consequences of your recommendations?
A well-written memo will summarize the arguments in their own words, compare and contrast the arguments in each reading, describe any limitations/shortcomings of each piece, and discuss whether you agree or disagree with one or both papers and why. You may bring in additional materials; however, they may not replace the assigned readings and must be cited correctly. You may choose any citation style as long as it’s consistent throughout your memo.
The word limit does not include the bibliography.
Name:
Professor’s Name:
Topic: U.S. strategies on China’s Economic and Political Domain
China has been rising in power rapidly and has been a great threat to the superpower. Washington and Beijing have the most financed militaries bringing the two as most influential. With the Roaming bipolarity, China sits as the junior superpower. The world order and the U.S., the superpower, advocate for democracy, but China has been trying to prove that development doesn’t require democracy. This essay reflects on the articles on ‘Chinese power in divided world’ and ‘China’s rise and the future of global politics.’ It also offers recommendations of Strategies the U.S. should take towards China in political and economic domains.
The U.S. Vice president outlined reproaches against China, such as territorial disputes on south china and allegations of interfering with U.S. elections and acting against America’s interests. These allegations may be true with the advanced technologies the state has been manufacturing, used to monitoring and spying on citizens. Despite signs of a cold war between China and the U.S., none of the two states seems prepared for that, as they keep advancing and improving their systems in fear of the other in their competition in technological and economic realms. According to the article, china’s foreign policy is based on continued economic growth rather than unseating the U.S. as the premier power (Xuetong, 40). In reality, economic growth and wealth come with power and influence. Therefore, despite china denying claims of eying to take over as a superpower, it is still on the list of their goals through their economic efforts. The rise of China is changing the world from unipolarity to bipolarity. If competition keeps intensifying between China and the U.S., it will reduce their cooperation on counterterrorism measures hence increasing attacks.
According to Jessica Chen, china is led by an authoritarian government in which it man’s its economy, with development being tied to pragmatism and the will to experiment rather than following any particular orthodoxy. The world order and the U.S., the superpower, advocate for democracy, but China has been trying to prove that development doesn’t require democracy. Given room, china would advocate for authoritarianism to thrive in other states, which would paralyze the political climate in China (Jessica, 92). Despite thriving economically with the one-man rule, china lacks all concerns on human rights resolutions. China can be termed as a rogue regime due to its unclear stand. It doesn’t advocate for extreme violence but still sells weapons to countries like Sudan, used in violence. Arguments on authoritarianism and democracy have been launched, but none of the solutions work. The internet doesn’t bring democracy, and surveillance doesn’t enable the government to control society to fight for power and relevance. U.S. leadership is preferred more than China, therefore the need to restore democracy.
In the wake of bipolarity and surge for power and leadership, the U.S. should revive faith in its leadership. The U.S. needs to adopt strategies towards China in terms of its political and economic domain. The strategy should be centered on balancing the rising power of the Chinese rather than Help its ascendancy. There cannot be two superpowers in the world but only one dominating. The superpower should act in consideration of people’s interest and their rights rather than opposing them. Authoritarianism may not be completely bad leadership as it provides consistent results and boosts productivity, but there is a need for others’ involvement in decision-making and security. There is a need to defend and restore democracy and working together.
U.S. Strategies Towards China’s Political and Economic Domain
Revitalize the U.S. economy
The United States should take steps in strengthening its economy. With a strengthened economy, the U.S. will be in a better position to strategize. Robust economic growth would promote a strategic future and grand strategy towards china (Blackwill & Ashley). Therefore, the president and Congress should prioritize revitalizing the U.S. economy.
Strengthen the U.S. military
The united states hold the highest military budget globally but should increase it if need be to strengthen the military. Sequestration caps should be removed, and the budget for defense increased substantially. Washington should increase the defense posture for their ballistic missile in the pacific. They should also intensify a consistent U.S. naval and air presence in the east and south china seas.
Expand Asian trade networks
A trans-pacific partnership trade agreement would serve some good to the U.S., as without delivering on the TPP, strategies on China will be highly weakened. A push for ratification should be carried out together with seeking trade promotion authority. With expanded Asian trade networks, the U.S. will have a strategy on China’s economic domain (Blackwill & Ashley). The U.S. should also reinforce its Indo-pacific partnerships by getting support from its allies. It should also strengthen the power-political capabilities of its allies and friends.
Create a technology-control regime
Washington should pay a close watch to limit china’s access to advanced weaponry and critical military technologies. The U.S. should sweet-talk their allies towards developing a coordinated approach in limiting china’s access to technologies and dual-use. Washington should impose a cost on china with excess benefits in case it violates cyberspaces. The U.S. should consistently improve their cyber defense and pass legislation in Congress to protect its cyberspace.
Work cited
Jessica Chen Weiss. 2019. A World Safe for Autocracy? China’s Rise and the Future of Global Politics. Foreign Affairs 98 (4): 92.
Xuetong Yan. 2019. The Age of Uneasy Peace: Chinese Power in a Divided World. Foreign Affairs 98 (1): 40.
Blackwill, Robert D., and Ashley J. Tellis. Revising U.S. grand strategy toward China. Council on Foreign Relations, 2015.
Glaser, Bonnie S. “U.S. Strategy toward China: Engaging, Binding, and Balancing.” NIDS International Security Seminar (March 2016). 2016.
Harding, Harry. “Has U.S. China policy failed?.” The Washington Quarterly 38.3 (2015): 95-122.
