Myo Min Thein , 2017, International University of Japan
Introduction
In the past, China has significantly cooperated in regional security on specific issues. These include resolving in the Cambodia conflict, supporting and participating in East Timor by peacekeeping efforts, and trying to help further nuclear non-proliferation on the Korean peninsula and so on. Moreover, China has also initiated the anti-terrorism effort in Central Asia through the Shanghai Security Cooperation Agreement.[1] Today, China has to become a most powerful nation in Asia. Economically, in 2013, the Chinese economy was approximately 60 % of the size of the U.S. economy.[2] Many commentators believe that the Chinese economy will be closer to 80 % of the size of the U.S. economy in 2020. Due to the increasing of the economy, it will be possible for the Chinese government to divert substantial funds to high-technology projects in defence and other advanced technological endeavours. Typically, as the growing economy and China’s interest in the global distribution of power, China is going to be increasingly involved in East Asia and Asia-Pacific regional initiatives.[3] On January 2017, China explicated its position on Asia-Pacific security through its first white paper.[4]
So, the purpose of the study is to analysis the current China’s Security Policy in Asia-Pacific with the perspective of geopolitics, and the research question is how China’s security policy in Asia-Pacific does? This paper will focus on China’s Asia-Pacific security policy by using the geopolitical analysis, as well as will realise on the statecraft of China and its diplomatic behaviours in the Asia-Pacific region.
Literature review
Typically, the definition of geopolitics is the interplaying of geography, power, politics and international relation.[5] In other words, Gray stated that the strategic aspect of geopolitics is consists of international relationship, politics, economic and military. Historically, geopolitics links between political power and geographical factor. Moreover, the scholar Myoe argues that:
“Geopolitics is the political interpretation of geography as well as it refers to international economic, diplomatic and security relationships between both nation-states and international governmental organisation.”[6]
Asia-Pacific Region and Civilization
Initially, what is Asia-pacific region? The Asia-pacific region does not only refer to a geographical area but also relates to a historical concept and an idea of civilisation. The significant of the Asia-pacific region based on the economic growth throughout the Asian region and it has been remarkable since the beginning of the 21st century, and it has noticed on the global stage.[7] Moreover, the Asia-Pacific is more than a regional concept and it is a representation of a new evolutionary path for civilisation.
China in Asia-Pacific Region
Despite the shifting of civilisation on Asia-Pacific, with the fastest-growing economy in the world and a refurbished military strategy and growing military budget, China has emerged from the Cold War with renewed power and influence. Consequently, in the last decade, the rise of China power in term of both military and state power has noticeably emerged in the Asia-Pacific region. In other words, China has been tried to become a geostrategic player by using economic engagement to achieve its geostrategic and security objectives. Moreover, Xi’s government has also emphasised the importance of prioritising the economic interests of other countries that would support Chinese national interests. So, how China chooses to exercise its power in the framework of Asia-Pacific regional security cooperation.
China’s Regionalism Vs Institutionalism
What is China’s Regionalism and how does practice in Asia-Pacific? Joseph Nye defined regionalism as "the formation of interstate associations or groupings on the basis of regions".[8] Likewise, Alagappa argued that:
“Regionalism as a sustained cooperation, formal or informal, among governments, nongovernment organisations or the private sector in three or more contiguous countries for mutual gain.”[9]
For China case, it’s regionalism in Asia started in the 1990s. In 1997, President Jiang Zemin announced at the 15th Chinese Communist Party Congress (CPC) that:
“China needs to actively participate in multilateral diplomacy and give full play to China’s role in the United Nations and other international organisations”.[10]
Meanwhile, China’s regionalism was confined to East Asia and now China’s role has been transformed in Asian regionalism. Currently, due to the China's security vision for the Asia-Pacific region, it would be assumed as a great power of China’s regionalism. Moreover, the ‘white paper’ also provides three-layered spheres of interests (Lacang-Mekong region, ASEAN region and Asia-Pacific region).[11] Furthermore, It is also projected a “new model of international relations” by accepting both “international norms based on the purposes and principles of UN charter” and “five principles of peaceful coexistence”.[12] So, it could be seen that the idea of China’s regionalism has to be combined with the sense of institutionalism.
China’s Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation Policy and Improvement
What does China want for Asia–Pacific Security? Through the white paper on Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation, it is presented that the four concepts of China “common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable development”[13] and targeted for achieving both peaceful development and sustainable security. So, in order to enhance peaceful development and sustainable security in the region, the document outlined China’s commitment to fostering security through dialogue and cooperation, and described its six-fold policy framework and obviously designed their “Regional Security Framework[14]” as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Framework of Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation Policy
Source: China’s White Paper on Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation, 2017
Major Multilateral Mechanisms and Non-Traditional Security Cooperation
Due to the China’s White Paper, it can realise that the involvement of regional multilateral mechanisms and contribution to all regional forums as shown in Figure 2. The security policy of China highlights China’s commitment towards the development of a regional security mechanism through active security dialogue and cooperation. For instance, the white paper mentions the “Xiangshan Forum” as one of the dialogue forums for enhancing the regional security mechanism. In Multilateral mechanism, It would be realised that China’s three-layered spheres of interests geographically.
Figure 2: Multilateral Mechanisms of China in Asia-Pacific region
Source: China’s White Paper on Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation, 2017
Moreover, the China’s security policy has emphasised on growing of non-traditional security threats and enhancing non-traditional security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region as shown in Figure 3. In the non-traditional security issues, due to the important idea of China security cooperation, China has planned to control the global distribution of power, and to enhance economy growth and mutual trust, and to improve peaceful development among the Asia-Pacific countries.
Figure 3: Non-Traditional Security Cooperation of China in Asia-Pacific region
Source: China’s White Paper on Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation, 2017
Regional Maritime Security Initiatives
From a geopolitical perspective, regional maritime security in the Asia-Pacific region is a core focus of the China’s security policy. It makes sense for a “Rimland[15]” country, China not only has to strengthen its maritime and air defence power to safeguard its sovereignty and security but also to attain its goal of regional hegemony alignments with its regional neighbours by pursuing, negotiating and trust building. Thus, the policy has highlighted that “misunderstandings and lack of mutual trust among some countries about traditional security issues also pose risks to maritime security”[16]. Regarding its maritime boundary issue, China has defined the idea of resolving bilaterally through dialogue with relevant state parties respectively. Specifically, China has firmly claimed to the United State and Korea for stopping the deployment of the THAAD anti-ballistic missile system in the Korea because it would severely damage the Asia-Pacific regional strategic balance as well as China’s sovereignty and security.
In Practice
On March 2017, the United State Pacific Command deployed the first Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)[17] elements to South Korea, when North Korea has successfully conducted its fifth nuclear test.[18] It has significantly impacted on the global distribution of power especially in the Asia-Pacific region. In fact, due to the approach of China’s aspirations to get regional domination or to become a geostrategic player, it has to control the Asia-Pacific maritime communication routes and it would be also affected the interests of the United State, Japan and rest of the world (e.g “Trans-Pacific Partnership[19]”). Moreover, for improving the regional cooperation, China has being implemented new development and trade initiatives from 2013 onwards named as “One Road One Belt (OROB),[20]” and it has to enhance the convergence of economic interests and comprehensive economic and social development in the region.
Discussion
Firstly, focusing on the China’s security policy in Asia-Pacific by using the geopolitical analysis, this study would show the implication of both China security policy and its reality engagements in Asia-Pacific cooperation. In fact, it would be noticed that strengthening bilateral security alliances, maintaining for rising powers, engaging with regional multilateral institutions, forging a broad-based military presence, expanding trade and investment, and advancing democracy and human rights are the idea of both regionalism and neoliberal institutionalism by the Xi’s government.
Moreover, despite the United States has been withdrawn it's supporting for TPP, as China has been persuading on Asia-Pacific countries for implementing their One Road One Belt (OROB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Silk Road Fund, it would be argued that China utilises the idea of neoliberalism. In fact, the increasing of economic interdependence coincides with a growing interest in regional free trade agreements (FTAs), most of the countries in the region are negotiating bilaterally or has signed regional trade agreements. These agreements would be assumed as a significant geopolitical expression of peaceful relations among states.
Secondly, focusing on the statecraft of China and its diplomatic behaviours in the Asia-Pacific region, this paper shows that China’s involvement is crucial to the success of efforts to build a regional order in the Asia-Pacific. Moreover, as China’s attitude toward regional cooperation on security matters is a very significant and positive development, it would argue as neoliberal institutionalism.
Also, this study could explain that even the China grips their national interest, the current security policy noticeably pointed out that China would use neighbourhood diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific region by using the geopolitical benefits. Furthermore, due to building cooperate economic and security regimes to promote free trade and manage disputes, it would be argued that the proposing of China’s new model of international relations centred on mutually beneficial cooperation.
Furthermore, from the geopolitical perspective, I argue that the China’s security policy would be based on the three sphere of interest and its oppose unilateralism and support multilateralism.
From the theoretical perspective on China’s Asia-Pacific security policy, China’s approach to “hotspot issues” especially on maritime security could be perceived as realism because China has illustrated “territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests” in the policy.
On the other hand, as China's relations with other major Asia-Pacific countries and participation in “major multilateral mechanisms” in the Asia-Pacific region, it would be assumed as a sense of neo-liberal institutionalism because China has shown that its involvement in international organisations, cooperation, and economic integration.
Moreover, as China’s participation in regional institutions, improving its confidence towards regional cooperation, displaying its regionalism, self-identity, regional role and outlooks on regional cooperation, it would be argued as a sense of constructivism.
Overall, this study would say that the approach of China’s security policy in Asia-Pacific based on the three sphere of interest with the perception of both regionalism and neo-liberal institutionalism by practising the multilateral negotiations and cooperative security arrangement in the region as presented in Figure 4.
Lastly, I would suggest that Xi’s Government needs to manage its asymmetrical relationships through active engagement in international organisation and to demonstrate its peaceful rise as well as to emphasis on solving issues bilaterally, despite the fact that these mechanisms sound contradicts to each other.
Figure 4: Diplomacy and Statecraft of China in Asia-Pacific region
Conclusion
In conclusion, due to the theme of China’s Asia-Pacific security cooperation, China has to launch a strong regional economic presence that might be utilised to establish the Asia Pacific’s economic dependency on China. In fact, alliance formation is important in strengthening national power in actual practice. Thus, in the future, China should build up their national power by pursuing alignment relationships with the other countries and ought to expand its share of global GDP and trade in the global economy. Finally, this study would argue that China has to be accompanied with diplomacy to promote its economic, politics and military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. However, remaining questions for further study is whether China can continue its pursuit of regional power and peaceful development or not.
Reference
Alagappa, Muthiah. Democratic Transition in Asia: The Role of the International Community DIANE Publishing, 1994.158
BBC. “North Korea says it has successfully carried out its fifth nuclear test, in continued defiance of UN resolutions.” September 9, 2016. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37314927
Chapman, Graham. The geopolitics of south Asia: From early empires to the nuclear age.3rd ed. Vol. pbk;hbk;. Farnham: Ashgate. 2009.
Dodds, Klaus-John. "Geopolitics and Foreign Policy: Recent Developments in Anglo. American Political Geography and International Relations." Progress in Human Geography 18, no. 2 (1994): 186-208
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Flint, Colin. Introduction to geopolitics.3rd ed. Milton: Routledge. 2016.
Gray, Colin S. Geopolitics, Geography, and Strategy Psychology Press, 1999.
Maung Aung Myoe, “Geopolitics and Statecraft”, Diplomacy and Statecraft, Lecture 8, International University of Japan, March 8, 2017.
Nye, Joseph S. International Regionalism: Readings Little, Brown, 1968.
Jiang Zemin. “Speech in the 15th Party Congress Report”, On September 12, 1997.
International monetary Fund, “IMF Annual Report”, April 2013. Accessed March 3, 2017. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2013/02/
Jusuf Wanandi ,"China and Asia Pacific Regionalism," The Rise of China and a Changing East Asian Order; (ed. Kokubun Ryosei and Wang Jisi), Tokyo: Japan Center for International Exchange, 2004, 37-48
Sakamoto Kazuichi, “The Asia Pacific: Why Now? The Meaning of the Asia Pacific Age,” Asia Pacific University, 2010, accessed March 1, 2017. https://www.apu.ac.jp/rcaps/uploads/fcke ditor/Conference/2010APConference_PPT_DrSakamoto.pdf
Samuel P. Huntington, “The clash of civilizations”, Foreign affairs: 22-49, 1993.
Spykman, Nicholas John, 1893-1943, and Helen R. Nicholl. 1969. The geography of the peace. Hamden, Conn.: Archon Books.
U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, 2015 Annual Report to Congress, November 2015, 473, Accessed March 2, 2017. https://www.uscc.gov/Annual_Reports/2015-annual-report-congress
Xinhua News. “China Issues White Paper on Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation.” January 11, 2017.Accessed March 3, 2017. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/201701/11/c_135973890. htm,
___________ . “China’s Policies on Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation.” January 11, 2017. Accessed March 5, 2017. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2017-01/11/c_1359736 95.htm
[1] U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, 2015 Annual Report to Congress, November 2015, 473, Accessed March 2, 2017. https://www.uscc.gov/Annual_Reports/2015-annual-report-congress
[2] International monetary Fund, “IMF Annual Report”, April 2013. Accessed March 3, 2017. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2013/02/
[3] Jusuf Wanandi ,"China and Asia Pacific Regionalism," The Rise of China and a Changing East Asian Order; (ed. Kokubun Ryosei and Wang Jisi), Tokyo: Japan Center for International Exchange, 2004, 37-48
[4] Xinhua News. “China Issues White Paper on Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation.” January 11, 2017.Accessed March 3, 2017. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/201701/11/c_135973890. html.
[5] Klaus-John, Dodds, "Geopolitics and Foreign Policy: Recent Developments in Anglo, American Political Geography and International Relations," Progress in Human Geography 18, no. 2 (1994): p.198.
[6] Maung Aung Myoe, “Geopolitics and Statecraft”, Diplomacy and Statecraft, Lecture 8, International University of Japan, March 8, 2017.
[7] Sakamoto Kazuichi, “The Asia Pacific: Why Now? The Meaning of the Asia Pacific Age,” Asia Pacific University, 2010, accessed March 1, 2017, https://www.apu.ac.jp/rcaps/uploads/fckeditor/Conference/ 2010APConference_ PPT_DrSakamoto.pdf
[8] J. Nye, International Regionalism: Readings Little, Brown, 1968.
[9] Alagappa, Muthiah. Democratic Transition in Asia: The Role of the International Community DIANE Publishing, 1994.158
[10] Jiang Zemin. “Speech in the 15th Party Congress Report”, On September 12, 1997.
[11] Xinhua News. “China’s Policies on Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation.” January 11, 2017. Accessed March 5, 2017. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2017-01/11/c_1359736 95.htm
[12] Ibid.
[13] Ibid,
[14] Ibid,
[15] The “Rimland” is a concept argued by Nicholas John Spykman,
[16] Xinhua News. “China’s Policies on Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation.” January 11, 2017. Accessed March 5, 2017. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2017-01/11/c_1359736 95.htm
[17] Defense News. "PACOM Head Supports Exercises near China, Talks THAAD", February 25, 2016. Accessed March 5, 2017. http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/2016/02/25/ pacom-harris-china-korea-thaad-exercises-south-china-sea/80938062/
[18] BBC. “North Korea says it has successfully carried out its fifth nuclear test, in continued defiance of UN resolutions.” September 9, 2016. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37314927
[19] The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is the largest regional trade accord in history and it would have set new terms for trade and business investment among the United States and 11 other Pacific Rim nations
[20] The “Silk Road Economic Belt” and the “Twenty-First-Century Maritime Silk Road,” together known as One Belt, One Road (OBOR).
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