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Securitizing China's 'Peaceful Rise' : An Empirical Study of the U.S. Approach to Chinese Trade Practices, Military Modernization and Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea

Nilsson, Fredrik LU (2012) SIMV07 20121
Graduate School
Abstract
The U.S.-China relationship is undeniably one of the most important economic and security relationships of the 21st century. Since Barack Obama took office in 2009, increasing emphasis has been put on ending the two wars in the Middle East and to redirect focus towards the increasingly important Asia Pacific region. The U.S. relationship with China has proven difficult to manage, and major differing opinions on economics, politics and security have contributed to tensions between the two powers. By employing mainly securitization theory and theories of hegemony, this thesis aims to illustrate how the U.S. approach to China’s military modernization and economic development, in some cases, has led to the securitization of important strategic... (More)
The U.S.-China relationship is undeniably one of the most important economic and security relationships of the 21st century. Since Barack Obama took office in 2009, increasing emphasis has been put on ending the two wars in the Middle East and to redirect focus towards the increasingly important Asia Pacific region. The U.S. relationship with China has proven difficult to manage, and major differing opinions on economics, politics and security have contributed to tensions between the two powers. By employing mainly securitization theory and theories of hegemony, this thesis aims to illustrate how the U.S. approach to China’s military modernization and economic development, in some cases, has led to the securitization of important strategic parts of China’s rise. Through empirical analysis focusing on the cases of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, China’s anti-access capabilities, and currency and trade practices, I argue that the unique historical context has created conditions that have put the United States in a vulnerable position, which has, in turn, facilitated the securitization of China’s rise. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Nilsson, Fredrik LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMV07 20121
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
The United States, China, Securitization Theory, Asia Pacific, Military Modernization
language
English
id
2740544
date added to LUP
2012-06-13 14:52:28
date last changed
2012-06-13 14:52:28
@misc{2740544,
  abstract     = {{The U.S.-China relationship is undeniably one of the most important economic and security relationships of the 21st century. Since Barack Obama took office in 2009, increasing emphasis has been put on ending the two wars in the Middle East and to redirect focus towards the increasingly important Asia Pacific region. The U.S. relationship with China has proven difficult to manage, and major differing opinions on economics, politics and security have contributed to tensions between the two powers. By employing mainly securitization theory and theories of hegemony, this thesis aims to illustrate how the U.S. approach to China’s military modernization and economic development, in some cases, has led to the securitization of important strategic parts of China’s rise. Through empirical analysis focusing on the cases of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, China’s anti-access capabilities, and currency and trade practices, I argue that the unique historical context has created conditions that have put the United States in a vulnerable position, which has, in turn, facilitated the securitization of China’s rise.}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, Fredrik}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Securitizing China's 'Peaceful Rise' : An Empirical Study of the U.S. Approach to Chinese Trade Practices, Military Modernization and Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}