Chinese have initiated different reforms opening their socio-economic and political process to different approaches. The reforms have affected their relations with other countries notably the super power countries including the United States who has enjoyed socio-economic and political dominance over the past centuries. The changes impacted by China have put it into the 21st internal society’s global map and has enabled it to develop to a great significance. In this paper, I will express by explaining the relations between Chinese government and the international community.
While explaining this relation, I will take into consideration what changes have take shape in China especially their behavior relative to the International Society. It will cover a 20-year lifespan of the reforms that have been taking place especially the reforms have that have been experienced and how the reforms have affected the Chinese interaction with the rest of the world. The reforms may be social, economic, or cultural but have impact on international relations between China and the rest of the world, especially with a focus to the effect to the United States
One of the Chinese catalysts to the military improvement includes the Open Door Policy by Deng Xiaoping in the 1970s. The policy allowed imperial powers to China, with none of the powers taking control or completely taking over the country. It involved a variety of treaties among which includes Qing Dynasty China that took place after the first Opium war This policy coupled with the Chinese participation in the international society expanded China’s identification with the international Society and other international systems. The development of Chinese post war relations with the international society has enabled its transformation into a big power house making it play an important role in the international society and status quo and maintenance of the regional order. This has therefore made China an important strategic country in maintaining the stability of the Asian Pacific, in which the country is located. Due to this reason, the United States finds China a pivotal country for collaboration.
China has an increasing military power that has been viewed from different aspects as the possible arms race possibility in Asia that will be able to see China emerging victorious. United States has been enjoying dominance in global military supremacy and China’s possibility of being a military powerhouse from Asia is viewed as a threat. In fact, China impressed the world in the recently put up modern generation weapon grand parade celebration that should China suppress the archrival Russia. Therefore, with all the transformation in the Chinese military wing, the United States therefore finds China great concerns and therefore the need to increase alliance with the country
China conducts active diplomacy through different levels through their institutionalized principle called China rise. The diplomacy has enabled them create active and strategic partnership with other powers. This includes signing of treaties with EU, Russia, and India to help them improve their regional relationship. This has stood out as a threat to the United States as it encourages balance of the American powers. The policy also ensures a good coexistence with the neighbors within the Pacific Asian block. The policy thus improved trade resulting to trade surplus. Due to this, the U.S has improved its cooperation with China owing to its immense and rapid growing population that provides a ready market and cheap labor for the manufacturing companies thus being a good trading partner with the United States.
The Chinese government has invested and enhanced technology that was originally viewed as the United States competitive advantage. China has made a tremendous move in upgrading its technological infrastructural base. This has strengthened China’s production and enabling it to move from labor intensive to skill intensive production. Owing to its ever-growing large population, the Chinese government has used that to its advantage to ensure majority of the technological progress is fully utilized. They therefore attract businesses and investors from far and wide to fully engage their machinery and growing population. This then remains a good base for the United States and other countries to siphon some of their jobs to for quicker production process and under cheap production cost.
China was originally behind the Japanese until 2010 when their economic expedition took off at a high speed suppressing the Japanese economic power to become the world’s second largest economic powerhouse falling slightly behind the United States. Due to the fear of overtaking the United States, the world economic super power has decided to cooperate with the Chinese government. China holds the strongest and largest foreign currency reserve in to the giant United States dollar. With the capability of balancing the economic parities, especially to the developing countries in the Asian continent, China stands on the way to status quo of the United States and thus the United States have to lean towards them in order to learn the tricks of Chinese overtake to the United States, super power leadership.
China boasts of its largest population, a population that is one fifth of the world’s capacity. These people have set the country in the World’s economic map through their active role in socio economic and political activism. For example, by 1982, only a fifth of the Chinese population lived in the cities with only four of one in every four members being considered illiterate. However, in 2000, reports released indicated that over a third of the population lived in the urban areas with illiteracy level falling from one in every four to one in every 15 people. The Chinese government also ensured industrial achievements that included the establishment of three Gorges Dams remaining the world’s largest hydroelectric dam ever established. The Chinese have also made tremendous economic improvements including hosting the largest airport, in the world, Beijing . In addition, the country also produces thousands of electronic fans, colored TVs and different millions designs, styles and types of mobile phones that are often sold in the world market at relatively cheaper prices thereby thwarting their competitors including the United States. China has experienced economic development and this can never be compromised due to its progressive growth and responsibility towards holding the mantle as a super power in the near future.o these consistence in growth and development, China has proved its worth of possibly being a threat to the United States and hence the United States pivotal shift towards China.
Works Cited
Alastair I. Johnston, Cultural Realism, Princeton Univ. Press
Economic Survey of China OECD, May 2005
Johnston, "Cultural Realism and Strategy in Maoist China", The Culture of National Security: Norms and Identity in World Politics, ed. Peter J. Katzenstein
Office of the Secretary of Defense, Annual Report to Congress, The Military Power of the People’s Republic of China, 2005
Nolan P, (2004), Transforming China Globalization, Transition and Development, Anthem Press
Wendt’s "Collective Identity Formation and the International State", American Political Science Review, 1994
