Chinese dilemmas in thinking about regional security architecture

China's Unraveling Engagement Strategy

“…Michael Yahuda of the London School of Economics argues that economic interdependence between China and small states in Asia has not led to greater stability, as historical and contemporary political issues remain the defining characteristics of such relations. 12 Daniel Drezner of Tufts University further dispels the myth of economic interdependence leading to peace in Asia, noting that China has used economic statecraft to achieve foreign policy goals against developing states in Asia in the past. 13 Salient examples of such statecraft are China's use of its hard currency reserves to encourage developing states to stop recognizing Taiwan, and China's decision to increase barriers for import of fruit from the Philippines in 2012 in response to tensions between the two states over sovereignty of the Scarborough Shoal.…”

Rethinking China’s grand strategy: Beijing’s evolving national interests and strategic ideas in the reform era

“…It was responsive to several trends in regional politics after the mid-1990s. It was first of all designed to ally regional concerns about Chinese power and was thus part of the reassurance strategy of the late 1990s (Yahuda, 2003). In part, it was intended to weaken America's strategic presence in Asia by implicitly dissuading Asian countries from close alliance ties with the United States, though this anti-American dimension was quietly dropped once Beijing recognized the more enduring nature of American primacy (Shambaugh, 2005, p. 27).…”

“…One purpose of this approach was to forge long-term, cooperative relationships with key countries in the world so as to continue utilizing them as an essential source for modernization. It was also designed to strengthen the claimed trend toward multipolarity and check American unilateralism (Yahuda, 2003). By carefully creating a new approach in state-to-state relations, Beijing hoped to more proactively shape the international environment by strengthening linkages with other countries and by blunting American strategic pressure on China.…”

A Critical Assessment of China’s Role in the South China Sea Dispute

“…China has not expelled any ASEAN occupants from the Spratlys because it has the importance of regional stability in mind (Tønnesson, 2000). The current Chinese strategy focus is modernization and economic development at home (Goldstein, 2001;Yahuda, 2003). Its foreign policy serves this purpose: maintaining stability with less need to address immediate military challenges and making full use of the less hostile international environment conducive to China's integration into international economy (Goldstein, 2001;Yahuda, 2003).…”

“…The current Chinese strategy focus is modernization and economic development at home (Goldstein, 2001;Yahuda, 2003). Its foreign policy serves this purpose: maintaining stability with less need to address immediate military challenges and making full use of the less hostile international environment conducive to China's integration into international economy (Goldstein, 2001;Yahuda, 2003). China has adopted 'cooperative security' to release the fear of a 'greater' China of the relatively small neighboring countries, particularly the ASEAN claimant countries.…”