China's National Interests
China Essay
Evaluate the extent to which a specific Asia-pacific state has been successful in achieving its national interests.
China is firmly positioned as a superpower in both the Asia-Pacific region, and the global political arena. Some issues, however, have prevented China from fulfilling its national interests including territorial integrity, economic prosperity, a harmonious society, and a peaceful rise to power.
Territorial Integrity:
The PRC’s desire for territorial integrity means that China must remain ‘whole’ at all costs. As a state with a population of over 1.3 billion, China will undoubtedly encounter social problems particularly when 100 million of its population are not ‘ethnic Chinese’. The state’s ‘One China’ policy does not have room for secessionists. This has been demonstrated through the suppression of the continuing protest by the Uighars. The 2009 Riots in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, which contains a majority Uighar population, proved that there will continue to be deep-seeded social issues if the Chinese government wishes to maintain their forceful policy in keeping these people in PRC.
Taiwan continues to be a contentious issue for the Chinese government. Despite Taiwan having recognised sovereignty by 23 states, the PRC refuses to grant such recognition in the interests of the One China policy. The PRC remains vigilant in disallowing Taiwan’s secession from the mainland. The island receives special treatment by US through aid, billions in defence funding, and the promise of military actions as dictated by the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act. The PRC’s response to this has been the tactic of ‘anti-access/area denial’. If Taiwan were to attempt formal secession, it would incur a pre-emptive strike which would slow down US tactical movements. The PRC enacted the 2005 Anti-secessionist Act which legally requires an invasion of Taiwan if it ever attempted to secede. As well as these tactics, the PRC has used ‘soft power’ in order
Evaluate the extent to which a specific Asia-pacific state has been successful in achieving its national interests.
China is firmly positioned as a superpower in both the Asia-Pacific region, and the global political arena. Some issues, however, have prevented China from fulfilling its national interests including territorial integrity, economic prosperity, a harmonious society, and a peaceful rise to power.
Territorial Integrity:
The PRC’s desire for territorial integrity means that China must remain ‘whole’ at all costs. As a state with a population of over 1.3 billion, China will undoubtedly encounter social problems particularly when 100 million of its population are not ‘ethnic Chinese’. The state’s ‘One China’ policy does not have room for secessionists. This has been demonstrated through the suppression of the continuing protest by the Uighars. The 2009 Riots in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, which contains a majority Uighar population, proved that there will continue to be deep-seeded social issues if the Chinese government wishes to maintain their forceful policy in keeping these people in PRC.
Taiwan continues to be a contentious issue for the Chinese government. Despite Taiwan having recognised sovereignty by 23 states, the PRC refuses to grant such recognition in the interests of the One China policy. The PRC remains vigilant in disallowing Taiwan’s secession from the mainland. The island receives special treatment by US through aid, billions in defence funding, and the promise of military actions as dictated by the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act. The PRC’s response to this has been the tactic of ‘anti-access/area denial’. If Taiwan were to attempt formal secession, it would incur a pre-emptive strike which would slow down US tactical movements. The PRC enacted the 2005 Anti-secessionist Act which legally requires an invasion of Taiwan if it ever attempted to secede. As well as these tactics, the PRC has used ‘soft power’ in order