Economic Interdependence and International Conflict: Situating China's Economic and Military Rise

Abstract

Many scholars have argued that systemic risks of conflicts tend to increase at critical junctures of power transitions or major power shifts. This article examines the economic and military rise of China and the challenges that it both faces and poses in East Asia, especially in relation to the United States. Specifically, it connects issues of power projection and parity, trade, and interdependence, as well as international institutions and governance to underscore the need for continued economic engagement and institutional enmeshment to lessen the likelihood of militarized conflict in the region.

China’s Rise in the Contemporary World

“…The future of the world order, which has been reinforced by the American-led liberal order, will gradually be affected by the emergence of China as a strong power in the international system and the means by which America can act as a catalyst for the rise of China (Leon, 2017). With the advent of the twenty-first century, the global power dynamics have shifted from Europe to the Asia Pacific, mainly because of China's rise (Sutter et al, 2013).…”

Crisis and opportunity

“…The country's ability to integrate itself into the global economy and be more interdependent with other countries has not necessarily released the mechanisms attributed by international relations theory regarding liberal or democratic peace. Leon (2017) argued that this is because China remains in a process of power transition. Thus, it will take some time before China can act as a responsible economic actor.…”