The US Pivot to Asia and its influence on China’s Hegemonic Aspirations

The rise of the Dragon is a hot, reoccurring topic and an event few would deny these days. The transition from a relative isolated China to a rising power with increasing influence on the world stage has shaped many policy agendas of various states around the world. Apart from the impact on different continents, it most of all has affected the regional affairs in China’s own sphere. The power dynamics in the region are changing and an important role in this scene is China’s growing influence in Asia. By the end of the 2000s and beginning 2010s, Beijing embraced a more aggressive position in relation to other states. The continuing disputes in the South China Sea China’s accentuate Chinas increasing military power. In line with these events, in 2011, the Obama Administration addressed their new foreign policy towards Asia. This involved a strengthening of the position of the United States in Asia. It was also largely perceived as a way of US balancing against a rising China. These...Show moreThe rise of the Dragon is a hot, reoccurring topic and an event few would deny these days. The transition from a relative isolated China to a rising power with increasing influence on the world stage has shaped many policy agendas of various states around the world. Apart from the impact on different continents, it most of all has affected the regional affairs in China’s own sphere. The power dynamics in the region are changing and an important role in this scene is China’s growing influence in Asia. By the end of the 2000s and beginning 2010s, Beijing embraced a more aggressive position in relation to other states. The continuing disputes in the South China Sea China’s accentuate Chinas increasing military power. In line with these events, in 2011, the Obama Administration addressed their new foreign policy towards Asia. This involved a strengthening of the position of the United States in Asia. It was also largely perceived as a way of US balancing against a rising China. These events form the context in which the research of this thesis will take place. The question this thesis will try to answer is: How has the US pivot to Asia during the Obama administration affected China’s regional hegemonic aspirations in case of the South China Sea disputes? In order to provide an answer to this question, the theory of hegemonic stability will be applied.Show less

Leiden University Student Repository

Documents

In Collections

The US Pivot to Asia and its influence on China’s Hegemonic Aspirations