Midterm Exam Questions Flashcards
What are the main tenets of realism, liberalism, and constructivism? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each one?
Realism: Balance of relative power; power maximization; endless power competition and risks of war, world in anarchy
- Proven by history but can be over simplifying
Liberalism: Countries that trade together don’t fight each other, peace achieved through the expansion of democratic countries, if you have institutions, international organizations (EU, etc.) then prospects of peace go up
- Sometimes isn’t always accurate
Constructivism: Importance of ideas, identity, values, norms, and culture, social processes more than strategic interaction; role of non-material & non-state actors
- Idealistic but accurate
What were the basic features and dynamics of the Sino-centric international system?
What led to its ultimate collapse? What kind of international system emerged in East
Asia as the Sino-centric order declined?
- Basic features and dynamics: Tribute system, challenge of protecting borders as empire expanded; conflicts b/w China & nomadic groups that did not accept Chinese cultural norms; autonomy of peripheral political entities that accepted Chinese civilization, overall peace & stability.
- Collapsed because China was divided, there were competing alignments with peripheral entities, China was subjugated by Mongols, there were opportunties for peripheral political entities and there were external challenges for the Ming.
- Imperial Competition with Western imperialism in East Asia and the rise of Japan and Russia
What were the key issues that caused friction between the United States and Japan
starting in the 1910s? And how did the United States and Japan try to manage their relationship in the 1920s to mitigate conflict and encourage cooperation? And why did these efforts ultimately fail, propelling these two countries toward war in 1941?
- Key issues were Japan’s foreign policy becoming increasingly assertive (21 demands on China, idea of Japanese monroe doctrine, sought US recognition of “special interests’ in China, intervention in Siberia) while US foreign policy became focused on liberal internationalism and non-intervention.
- They tried to manage it by increasing trade and with the US Open Door Policy for equal trading rights. Ultimately they establish the Washington Treaty System as an alternative to the balance of power system with the 4-Power Pacific Treaty, 5 power naval limitation treaty, and the nine-power treaty on China all aimed to respect each others territories and deter mobilization for war. Also signed the Kellogg-Briand pact.
- Failed because of the rise of Japanese militant nationalism & seizure of Machuria, global economic crisis & protectionism, Turbulence in China, and rise of Chinese nationalism, Exclusion of Soviet Union and Germany, Contradiction between Wilsonian internationalism and imperialism
How and why did the Washington Treaty System fail to establish a stable order in the
Asia-Pacific region after World War I? What kind of international order emerged after
World War II, and how was this order different from the Washington Treaty System after
World War I?
- Demise of Cooperative Diplomacy in Japan. Rejection of Racial Equality Clause in League of Nations Covenant (April 1919)
Frictions with US over economic interests in Manchuria
US Immigration Act of 1924 (ban immigration of Asians & Arabs and tightly restrict that of Africans –Japan feels targeted Japanese immigrants)
Great depression and U.S. Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930
London Naval Treaty of 1930 –intense opposition from Japan’s Imperial Navy because ratio would compromise Japanese naval superiority near Japan. Rise of Japanese militant nationalism & seizure of Machuria, global economic crisis & protectionism, Turbulence in China, and rise of Chinese nationalism, Exclusion of Soviet Union and Germany, Contradiction between Wilsonian internationalism and imperialism - Vision: Reconstruction & reintegration of Japan into international community
Cooperation among the allied powers & UN collective security
Decolonization and temporary United Nations trusteeships
European powers seek to restore colonies in Asia (France in Indochina, Britain in Malaya, Netherlands in Dutch East Indies)
Korea liberated from Japanese colonial rule, but divided between North Korea occupied by USSR and South Korea occupied by US; political strife in two Koreas
Nationalism and struggle for independence; linkage between nationalism and communism
Soviet-American competition in East Asia as well as Europe; and Chinese revolution
How did the decolonization process in the region intersect with the Cold War competition and conflict between the United States on the one hand and the international communist movement on the other? And what consequences did this linkage between decolonization
and the Cold War have on East Asian international relations?
Both camps were in a battle for allies. Japan’s integration into the world economy (workshop for East Asia) –sponsored by US
Southeast Asia as the potential economic hinterland for Japan
Korean & Vietnamese war procurements boost Japanese economy
Critical role of U.S. markets and technology
Japan as a development model for East Asia (“developmental state”) –especially for South Korea & Taiwan?
Export promotion as well as import substitution (US become main market for Japan’s exports)
2. Consequences: Communist revolution in China (1949) and Nationalist forces establish power in Taiwan; PRC incorporates autonomous regions: inner mongolia, Tibet, Xinjiang. Two Korean states established.
What was the nature of the Cold War system in East Asia, and how did it evolve over
time? What alliance arrangements emerged, and what explains these alliance
arrangements? How and why did these alliances change over time?
Multiplicity of frontline states, geographic dispersion of allies, and military balance
Diversity of political regimes in US alliance system
Historical animosity between US allies; U.S. seek to constrain allies –especially ROC & ROK
Sino-Soviet tensions and Asian nationalism
Communist Alliance netowrk: China-Soviet Alliance (1945-1979)
China-North Korean Treaty (1961-81, 1981-2001, 2001-2021 )
Soviet-North Korean Treaty (1961– 96)
Soviet-Vietnam Treaty (1978)
US Alliance Network: US-Japan (1951 & 1960 - present)
US-Philippines (1951 - present)
Australia, New Zealand, & United States or ANZUS (1951 – present)
US-Republic of Korea (1953 - present)
US-Republic of China (1954 - 1980)
US-Thailand (1954 Manila Pact; 1962 bilateral defense agreement - present)
What was the strategic realignment that took place in East Asia during 1970s, and what
motivated this strategic realignment and what were its international consequences?
1970s & 1980s: US-Japan alliance is good for Chinese interests
Keeps Japan from militarizing and acquiring nuclear weapons
Helps to counter the Soviet Union
Soviet threat in late 1970s
Normalization Communiques
1. China-US: China: (1) Taiwan question obstacle to China-US normalization; (2) PRC sole legal gov’t of China; (3) Taiwan is a province of China; (4) liberation of Taiwan is China’s internal affair –no other country has right to interfere
US: (1) Acknowledge all China on either side of Taiwan strait maintain one China & Taiwan is part of China; (2) not challenge this; interest in peaceful settlement of Taiwan question by Chinese themselves; (3) affirms ultimate objective of withdrawal of all US forces & military installations from Taiwan. Establish official relations between US and PRC
President Carter announces withdrawal of all US military personnel from Taiwan
US terminates mutual defense treaty with Republic of China. Both US & China agree that neither should seek hegemony in Asia-Pacific region or any other region in the world and each is opposed to efforts by any other country or group of countries to establish such hegemony.
US gov’t acknowledges Chinese position that there is but one China & Taiwan is part of China
.
- China-Japan: Japan: Recognize PRC is sole legal gov’t of China
China: Taiwan is inalienable part of PRC territory [Japan fully understands & respects PRC’s stand on this]
Japan & PRC establish diplomatic relations (full normalization)
China & Japan: mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs; peaceful settlement of disputes
[China refrains from seeking reparations; Japan states “deep reflection” about the past]
How did the end of the Cold War affect international relations in East Asia? How did the end of the Cold War affect the foreign policies of the United States, Japan, and China with respect to East Asia?
End of the Cold War in Europe –Fall of the Berlin Wall –November 9, 1989
China improves relations with Soviet Union
Tiananmen Crackdown –June 1989
Complications in the Cold War Conflicts in East Asia (Korea & Taiwan)
Democratization of South Korea & Taiwan
Collapse of the Soviet Union
Movement in early 1980s to more equidistant stance between US and USSR –pursuit of independent foreign policy (Deng’s June 1985 speech)
Gorbachev’s visit to Beijing in May 1989 –first Sino-Soviet summit since September 1959
Settlement of border disputes in 1991 and 2004 through compromises
Tiananmen Square impacts: US: suspension of military-to-military cooperation, high-level leadership exchanges, export licenses (for defense equipment, satellites, nuclear production); and restrictions on foreign aid
Japan: freeze of yen loans and grant aid to China
Tarnish international image of China
But Japan lead the international community in working to reintegrate China into the world economy and international community
Reintegration into the international community after Tiananmen Crackdown
Clinton Administration delink trade and human rights in May 1994
China’s application to join World Trade Organization in 1986; negotiations completed in 2001 Chinese exports and inward foreign investments take off
Communism no longer the basis of political legitimacy mobilization of nationalism and economic growth
Taiwan’s democratization and growth of Taiwan independence movement and Taiwan identity
What has been the changing relationship between economics and military security in the
context of East Asian international relations?
Creation of a full Marine Expeditionary Unit in Australia (up 2,500 troops) on a rotational basis
New Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) in Singapore
Re-establish rotational naval presence in the Philippines
US naval buildup
In 2012: 287 ships (158 in Pacific Fleet or 55%)
By 2019: 295-300 ships (177-180 in Pacific Fleet or 60%) –Actual in 2019: 289 ships
US Air Force bomber rotation in Guam and possibly Australia. Maritime Refueling in Indian Ocean
Deployment of Ground Self-Defense Forces for Reconstruction of Postwar Iraq
Anti-Piracy Maritime Patrols
Promotion of Security Cooperation with Australia, South Korea, and India as well as the United States move toward soft security multilateralism
Focus on Defense of Southwest Islands (especially Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands)
Reinterpretation of constitution to relax constraints on defense policy and new legislation to contribute more to international security and collective defense (2014-2015)
What factors are likely to enable and/or impede China in re-establishing a hierarchical
order in East Asia in the future?
Ensure military support for continued CCP rule
Defend China’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security
Protect China’s expanding national interests
Help ensure a peaceful global environment and promote mutual development
Uphold multilateralism to realize common prosperity
Uphold mutually beneficial cooperation to achieve common prosperity
Uphold the spirit of inclusiveness to build a harmonious world together (respect for diversity of civilizations and country’s right to independently choose its own social system and path of development)
Promote UN reform actively and prudently
Embrace Multilateralism (World Trade Organization, APEC, ARF, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Free-Trade Agreement with ASEAN, 6-Party Talks about Korea)
Omni-Directional Policy: Strategic Partnerships with India, Russia, United States, and Japan
Chinese Dream (2012): “The Chinese Dream is the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” Two centenaries: “A moderately well-off society” by 2021 [100th anniversary of CPC founding]; and “a fully developed nation” by 2049 [100th anniversary of PRC founding]
New Type of Major Power Relations (2014):
No conflict or confrontation, through emphasizing dialogue and treating each other’s strategic intentions objectively
Mutual respect, including for each other’s core interests and major concerns
Mutually beneficial cooperation, by abandoning the zero-sum game mentality and advancing areas of mutual interest
[Apply just to China-US relations or to other major power relations as well –like Japan, India, etc?]
“Asia for Asians”-2014 (“it is for the people of Asia to run the affairs of Asia, solve the problems of Asia, and uphold the security of Asia”) [no role for the US in Asia?]
“China will never seek hegemony or expansion” (2015)
