China's Seaward Adventurism and the Japan-US Alliance
Abstract
China's seaward adventurism is the key to Asian security in the future and defines new roles for the Japan-US alliance in the engagement of China. The People's Republic of China is a great power that will be central in determining the security of the Asia-Pacific region in the 21st century. It is evident by her actions that China does not plan to maintain the status quo; she appears to be developing her maritime power, her military, and her prosperous economy. China, therefore, presents a dangerous dilemma for all of Asia. Territorial issues such as the Paracel Islands and the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, the Senkaku Islands and the Continental Shelf in the East China Sea, and China's territorial claims to Taiwan still cause friction with other Asian countries and fuel suspicions that China is seeking hegemony in the region. The main reason for China's seaward expansion is to gain control over areas containing desperately needed resources, especially oil and natural gas. In this interdependent world, there is no option but to contain China; Japan and the United States must engage China to maintain peace and prosperity in the region. Key factors concerning China must be understood to engage it effectively: China's maritime territorial claims are vast; China's seaward adventurism comes from her national and military strategies; a perception gap exists among Japan, the United States, and China concerning China's contribution to peace and stability in the region; and China tends to see the Japan-U.S. alliance as a potential threat. Japan and the United states should balance their respective approaches in engaging China to advance China's internationalization through economy and human contacts and prevent China's seaward adventurism. The new roles in the Japan-U.S. alliance as it pertains to China are to contribute to regional stability, advance peacetime engagements with the PLA, and eliminate the strategic ambiguity and power vacuum in East Asia.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA529416
Entities
People
- Katsushi Okazaki
Organizations
- Marine Corps University