Economy Over Security: Why Crises Fail to Impact Economic Behavior in East Asia
Abstract
This study examines changes in economic behavior in East Asia following various periods of political crisis with China and explains these patterns through the lens of mercantile realism and dual hedge theories. Japan and South Korea have drastically increased their trade with China, a potential security adversary, at the cost of trade with the United States, a long-time security partner. Analysis of export trends from Japan and South Korea indicates that these countries do not take economic action to distance themselves from China in favor of the United States or Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) following a crisis. Export data also indicates that Japan and South Korea continue to trade strategically important goods like steel and petroleum to China, despite the fact that these goods have a greater potential to affect regional security. Finally, this study highlights how Japans economic weakness and South Korea's economic integration severely hamper any future prospect to use economic pressure to influence Beijing's security decisions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1053467
Entities
People
- Aaron R Sipos
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School