Introduction
The relations of the United States with China have been a subject of discussion in the international news media for decades. Still, this issue remains popular and appears in the news headlines rather often. The economic development and rise of China over the past twenty years had made it a powerful actor in the world arena. It is a general opinion that China can transform its economic power to attempts to gain control in the region.
There are several disputed regions in the surrounding East and South China seas which are claimed by China to be a part of its sovereign territory. The influence of the United States in this region is questioned, which might result in a possible confrontation with China. Therefore, the topic of the United States and China relationships is relevant to international studies as it discusses such notions as the concept of the unipolar world, sovereignty, geopolitics, and globalization.
Current Event Analysis
It is a general opinion that in the modern world the outer politics of each country influences all the countries in the region as well as its allies at the world level. In the Pacific region, the United States has such allies as Australia, Japan, and South Korea. These countries share the interests of the United States on many issues. Moreover, the United States has strong economic relationships with China which companies are involved in creating jobs in America.
The economy of the United States is noted to benefit from trade relationships with China. It is stated that policy uncertainty has a great impact on the economy as it reduces the investments in technology upgrading and export entry resulting in declining of trade and income (Handley and LimĂŁo 2775). Thus, the capitalist world-system might be affected by policy uncertainty in some regions.
Geopolitics is known as the geographical factors that impact international politics. The United States traditionally utilized the policy of “One China” in the discussed region. This policy is believed to be a cornerstone of the relations between the United States and China. It is noted that “it is also a fundamental bedrock of Chinese policy-making and diplomacy” (“What is the ‘One China’ Policy?”). Still, China insists that Taiwan is a part of its territory, which will be reunified in the future. The United States maintains some unofficial relationship with Taiwan as it supported its independence initially when it separated from communist China and supplied arms for its defense. Thus, isolation of Taiwan from the international community is a policy supported by China which makes this country vulnerable to outer factors.
It should be noted that Donald Trump has tried to change the policy of the United States in this region in the first year of his presidency. His administration labeled the policy of Obama in the region as weak and prioritized the confrontation of China in the policy on Taiwan, North Korea, and the South China Sea. It is emphasized that “the North Korean crisis is one of the few creations of the cold war to have outlived the Berlin Wall, despite persistent predictions that the communist dynasty would collapse” (McGregor).
It resulted in some tension in the region due to aggressive strategic competition utilized by China. At present, China can be regarded as another superpower that questioned the hegemony of the United States and threatened the unipolar world. It is argued that China also competes with Japan in economic success, which makes them rivals as well.
It is possible to say that during the past year the administration of Trump unsuccessfully tried to restore the influence of the United States in the Pacific region. It is noted that the prestige of the United States is dependent on the visible leadership in such issues as the South China Sea conflict. Still, the tough policy of Trump proved that some core societies have become powerful actors and might change the unipolar world to a bipolar or multipolar one. Loss of leverages in the international relationship with such countries as China might weaken the United States (Bader et al.).
The current bilateral relations with China might be improved by returning to the “One China” policy. It is noted that “from a political perspective, there is no denying that China and the United States have different systems, different cultural traditions, and different values” (Youfa). These differences often cause misunderstandings on many issues. It is also emphasized that the societies of China and the United States both experience the raise of inner nationalism, which might influence their relations in the future (Schweller 24). This realist approach proves that nationalism may cause a decrease in hegemonic policy at the world level.
Although the United States remains the most powerful state in the world with the strong military support of such intergovernmental organizations as NATO and influences the policy in many regions, it is obvious that the economic development of other countries might question its authority and power. Thus, such countries as China are regarded as competitors, which influences geopolitics and might cause further military conflicts in various regions of the world. The United States should take into consideration the latest events related to North Korea and China to restore its hegemony.
Conclusion
The analysis of current events related to the relations of the United States and China has helped to apply the concepts and terms of the course to real-world events. The knowledge obtained during the course helps understand world events and government international policy better. It is possible to say that the analysis of current geopolitics issues related to China involved the concept of the unipolar world and a realistic approach to geopolitics.
Works Cited
Bader, Jeffrey A., David Dollar, and Ryan Hass Monday. “U.S.-China Relations, 6 Months into the Trump Presidency: Still in Search of a Strategy.” Brookings. 2017. Web.
Handley, Kyle, and Nuno LimĂŁo. “Policy Uncertainty, Trade, and Welfare: Theory and Evidence for China and the United States.” American Economic Review, vol. 107, no. 9, 2017, pp. 2731-83.
McGregor, Richard. “Could Trump’s Blundering Lead to War Between China and Japan?” The Guardian. 2017. Web.
Schweller, Randall. “Opposite but Compatible Nationalisms: A Neoclassical Realist Approach to the Future of US–China Relations.” The Chinese Journal of International Politics, vol. 11, no. 1, 2018, pp. 23-48.
“What is the ‘One China’ Policy?” BBC. 2017. Web.
Youfa, Liu. “The Future of US-China Relations Under President Trump.” The Diplomat. 2017. Web.