the american hegemony and the rise of china
TRANSCRIPT
People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
Larbi Ben M’hidi University-Oum El Bouaghi
Faculty of Letters and Languages
Department of English
The American Hegemony and the Rise of China
A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the
Degree of Master of Arts in Anglo-American Studies
By: BENDEBBACHE Amina Supervisor: BOUDJELIT Amina
Examiner: MERAH Fahima
2016-2017
ii
Candidate Declaration Form
I, Bendebbeche Amina, candidate of Master at the Department of English, Larbi Ben
M’hidi University, do hereby declare that the dissertation entitled:
The American Hegemony and the Rise of China
in partial fulfillment of Master Degree in Anglo-American Studies is my own original
work, and it has not previously, in its entirety or in part, been submitted at any university.
Date: 13 /05 / 2017 ID number: 124007320
Signature of the candidate
…………………….
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Dedication
I would like to dedicate this work to:
My dear parents whom without I have never reached this point.
My brothers Aymen, Rami, Ibrahim, and my little sister Takwa for their
cheerful spirit, from which I derived my energy and vitality.
iv
Acknowledgement
Praise goes first to Allah who gave me the strength and provided me with the
will to end this work.
I owe a special appreciation to my supervisor Ms. Boudjelit Amina for her
help and patience as well as for giving me a good guideline for this work.
My sincere gratitude for my dear parents who never failed me and were my
supporters in hard times.
Thanks to all my friends, for their support and endless caring; which helped
me to complete this work.
I am finished today ... and I am grateful to all of you ...
v
Abstract
Post the Cold War the U.S. turned into a remarkable superpower, the policy maker and he
world’s hegemony. However, its dominance started to erode with the ascent of the rest as
China. This study is intended to search the influence of China as an emerging power over
the U.S. hegemony, investigating the extent to which Chinese competitiveness and
expansionism on the world scene threatens the U. S supremacy. Although the U.S is
nowadays a hegemonic power, yet the rise of China economically and politically creates a
new challenge for it. China's rapid progress mad many politician to believe that it is the
next leading power; therefore, it prompted the U.S to be cautious in decisions when it
comes to China as well as to avoid any direct confrontation with it.
Key words: hegemony, rise of China, competitiveness, confrontation
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Résumé
Après la guerre froide, les États-Unis se sont transformés en une superpuissance
remarquable, le décideur et l'hégémonie mondiale. Cependant, sa domination a
commencé à s'éroder avec l'ascension du reste comme la Chine. Cette étude vise à
rechercher l'influence de la Chine comme un pouvoir émergent sur l'hégémonie des États-
Unis, en étudiant dans quelle mesure la compétitivité et l'expansionnisme chinois sur la
scène mondiale menacent la suprématie U. S. Bien que les États-Unis soient de nos jours
un pouvoir hégémonique, la croissance de la Chine économiquement et politiquement
crée un nouveau défi pour cela. Les progrès rapides de la Chine ont fait de nombreux
politiciens pour croire que c'est la prochaine puissance de pointe; Par conséquent, il a
incité les États-Unis à faire preuve de prudence dans les décisions en ce qui concerne la
Chine et à éviter toute confrontation directe avec elle.
Mots clés: hégémonie, montée de la Chine, compétitivité, confrontation
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ملخص
العالم. ومع سة في صانعي السياواحدة من اهم عظمى، ومهيمنة بعد الحرب الباردة، تحولت الولايات المتحدة إلى قوة
منافسي أميركا. تهدف هذه من أقوى ذلك، بدأت هيمنتها تتآكل مع صعود الباقي. وفي هذا السياق، تعتبر الصين
هاقدرة التنافسية الصينية وتوسعومدى تأثير الالدراسة إلى البحث في تأثير الصين كقوة ناشئة على الهيمنة الأمريكية،
د سيادة الولايات المتحدة. على الرغم من أن الولايات المتحدة في الوقت الحاضر هي يهدفي تعلى الساحة العالمية
التقدم السريع للصين العديد من ودفع إلا أن صعود الصين اقتصاديا وسياسيا يخلق تحديا جديدا لها. القوة المهيمنة،
وضع السياسات عندما الولايات المتحدة إلى توخي الحذر فيالتالية. مما اضطر السياسيين للاعتقاد بأنها القوة الرائدة
.يتعلق الأمر بالصين وكذلك تجنب أي مواجهة مباشرة معه .
: الهيمنة، صعود الصين، القدرة التنافسية، المواجهةالكلمات الرئيسية
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List of Acronyms and abbreviations
A.I: artificial intellegence
BBC: British Broadcasting Corporation
BRICS: Economic Association of Russia, India, China and South Africa
CCP: Chinese Communist Party
CEBR: Center for Economic and Business Research
CNY: Chinese New Year
EM: Emerging Market
FAS: Financial Access Survey
FAS: Financial Access Survey
FDI: Foreign Direct Investment
FOB: Free On Board
FTAAP: Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific
GATT: General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
GDP : gross domistic prodcut
IMF: international monatery fund
KKH: Karakoram Highway
KMT: Kuomintang
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NIEO: the New International Economic Order
OECD: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
PBOC: People’s Bank of China
PPP: Purchasing Power Parity
PRC: People’s Republic of China
R&D: research and development
RECP: Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
RMB: Renminbi
ROC: Republic of China
SDR: Special drawing right
TPP: Trans-Pacific Partnership
WATO: World Trade Organization
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Table of Contents
Introduction……………………………………………………………………….……...1
Chapter One: A Historical Background on both USA and China since WW2………4
1.1. China: History of Backwardness Lead by the Imperial Powers………………………4
1.2. Sino-American Relations: Reasons of Change……………………………………...12
1.2.1 Revolution Breaks out to China………………………………………….13
1.2.2. Prosper China and New Sino American Relations………………………..17
1.3. The Power Transition Theory…………………..…………………………………....23
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….…….25
Chapter Two: The Rise of China and its Effect on the U.S Hegemony……………...28
2.1. Sino-American Competitiveness and Expansionism on the World Scene…………..28
2.1. Economic Competitiveness………………………………………………….29
2.2. Technological and Educational Competitiveness…………………………....38
3.3. Political Competitiveness …………………………………………………...41
2.2. China vs. the US: is China a Future Leader or Partner of the US…………………...44
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………45
Works Cited …………………………...……………………………………………….47
1
Introduction
The term hegemony means the unequal distribution of power, it is embedded
in the American policy, following the Second World War; it emerged as a global
hegemony in world politics. On the other hand, other emerging countries keeps on
growing rapidly and manages to become a good competitor to the developed ones.
China, in this case, is a noteworthy country that competes the American hegemony. It
has the second largest economy, which paves the way to a highest politics, as a result
Chinese ruler’s works so hard to shape China's development in order to become
number one in every field. This constant advancement gives China a strong possibility
for replacing and threatening the United States hegemony.
China's extraordinary military advancement and active diplomacy resulted in a
notable transformation of East Asia, opening doors for further power transition.
China's military spending has increased at an inflation-adjusted rate of over 18
percent, it was modernized in order to enable China to overthrow the U.S. existence
from Asia Pacific and center its own regional authority. As for the political system,
China has created a successful government, in the sense of internal reforms and
existing mechanism like the fictional balance of power. Its diplomacy reached Asia,
Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. This political, economic and military
emergence may cause a shift in the distribution of global power.
The rise of China economically and politically creates a new challenge for the
U.S. The aim of this study is to search the influence of China as an emerging power
on the U.S. hegemony. Moreover, it investigates the extent to which Chinese
competitiveness and expansionism on the world scene threatens the U. S hegemony?
In addition, whether the U. S. is following great Britain's pattern and declining as a
2
great power? Furthermore, it examines the reasons why has China, alone among
nations, felt obliged to assert that it does not aspire regional or global hegemony and
how such persuade policy echoes the American isolationism of 19th century. Besides,
investigating what are the reasons that raised China from backwardness to a leading
position in global affairs.
This study is divided into two chapters. The first aims to provide historical
facts that shaped the Sino American relations since the Second World War. First, the
chapter tackles the impact of the imperial powers as well as the difficulties, which
China has witnessed throughout the two last decades, it covers a wide range of events
that marked a watershed in China’s history, events that have moved it from a decaying
country to leading one. Then, it explains how China’s prosperity urged the U.S to
reconsider a “New Sino American Relations”. The last element in this chapter
explains the power transition theory, and whether, both China and the U.S are going to
embody it. The second chapter examines the Sino-American competitiveness and
expansionism on the world scene. In addition, figures to what degree Chinese intensity
can threaten American authority by means of highlighting the significant occasions
and conditions that makes a noteworthy part in molding the Sino-American relations.
Keeping in mind, the end goal to answer the principle dubious question whether China
is a potential future pioneer or a companion of the U.S.
This Mémoire relied on two main primary sources, the first is a book written
by David Lai, Research Professor of Asian Security Studies at the Strategic Studies
Institute, entitled The United States and China in Power Transition. The book
discusses the emergence of China’s political and economic power and its influence on
both China and the U.S relations; redefining their strategies toward one another in
light of the power transition theory. The second primary source is Suisheng Zhao book
3
China-US Relations Transformed Perspectives and Strategies Interactions. Zhao deals
with China’s growth and transformation as a great economic, political and military
power. In addition, he shed lights how China’s economic growth has redefined its
relations with the great powers such as the U.S, according to the issues most cared for,
such as security, trade and economic interaction. The overwhelming of the secondary
sources used in this study deal with the Sino American interactions, and how the rapid
rise of China can reshape the global balance likewise threatens the American
supremacy.
This study relies on both quantitative and analytical approaches, in order to
provide suitable as well as satisfying answers for the research questions with
relevance to works related to this subject. Moreover, it examines the Sino American
relations, and what they stand on. A historical method is required as well, in order to
analyze the rise of both powers, and how their relations and views have changed
according to their growth and development. Furthermore, the study follows the
instructions given in the seventh edition of the Modern Language Association (MLA
format).
4
Chapter one
A Historical Background on both USA and China since WW2
The 19th century and early 20th century was the era when China mostly
suffered from military intervention and political domination in other words
"imperialism". Imperial powers like Britain, Japan, France, Russia and most
importantly U.S sought dominance and financial interests. However, the nature of
imperlizing China differ from one country to another; and maybe the most influential
was that of Britain and The U.S. the American imperial interest in China took a fin
time to manifest itself in the area; in fact, it played a significant role in shaping the
Sino-American relations for centuries. This chapter traces back the two nation’s
history to reveal the reasons that raised China from backwardness to a leading position
in the global affaires. Moreover, it highlights China’s claims that its rise is peaceful
and how such persuade policy echoes the American isolationism of the 19th century in
terms of the “power transition theory” that according to many researchers gives China
the credibility to gain a hegemonic power.
1.1. China: history of backwardness lead by the imperial powers
According to James petras, Early China was the world’s major producer of
steel, technical innovation and textile manufacturing as well as large commercial
ships, which made it Britain's largest foreign trading partner. Until the early 19th c,
Britain kept on trading English wool and Indian cotton for Chinese tea and textile,
since these two products were largely consumed by the British people. In return,
Britain promoted and implemented the opium trade in the Chinese markets to ensure
China’s economic dependency.
5
Opium trade flourished therefore it was available for all the social Classes in
China , Chinese Qing government ,the Chinese dynasty which ruled China from 1644
until 1911, prohibited the importation of Opium because it influenced the Chinese
people badly and made them vulnerable to addiction. As a result, it “destroyed 20.000
cases of British imported Opium” This action was a good motive for Britain to launch
the two Opium wars (1839-1860). Chinese were defeated and new legislations
appeared the, most remarkable one was the treaty of Nanking1 (1842) it allowed
British military forces to invade the nation, ceding the Hong Kong Islands, asking for
special Economic treatment, lower tariffs, and territorial prerogatives. Moreover,
Britain dominated china’s central ports and allowed different foreigners (diplomats,
traders, Missionaries....) to enter china freely (Britannica, digital dictionary).
Britain's domination over Chinese markets and its interference in the Chinese
domestic affairs broke the nation. In addition, it divided it into social classes; wealthy
Chinese who supported the Imperial domination and poor Chinese who rejected it,
because they found themselves obliged to pay high taxes as well as the war debts,
consequently China suffered from: huge internal crises, explosion of population and
countryside ruled by corrupted world lords. The imperialistic powers: Britain, Japan,
France, Russia and Germany sequentially intervened in china and enlarged their
'sphere of influence'2 through which each power Took advantage from the divided
colony, and even used the chines lands as military bases.
Another territorial dispute appeared this time with Japan; Sino-japanese war
took place in (1894-1895) over the Korean peninsula. the motive of this war first
started when Japan wanted Korea to accept the western innovation and to replace the
old, traditional trade partner “China” by another developed, advanced foreigner
6
“japan” therefore, the Korean peninsula witnessed a split; conservative Koreans
versus the pro-Japanese Koreans. The tension grew between the two opposite fronts as
a result the Korean king demanded china’s intervention in order to stop the rebellions.
China responded to its request and intervened in Korea. Yet japan considered this
intervention as a violation of the LI-LTO convention, in which both countries agreed
to pull back their troops from Korea. It was enough reason for japan to launch the war
against China.
As expected Japan easily won the war, it was better prepared and arranged
taking into consideration that it embraced modernization and adopted the western
military organization. By contrast, the Qing government worked hard to preserve
Chinese traditions therefore; it rejected any western innovation. All these reasons
boosted the Japanese chances to win the war especially that China’s military was
almost broken after the opium wars.
In the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which finished the dispute, China accepted
Korea’s independence and surrendered Taiwan, the connecting Pescadores, and the
Liaodong Peninsula in Manchuria. China additionally agreed to pay compensation and
to give Japan exchanging benefits on Chinese domain. This treaty was later adjusted
by the intervention of Russia, France and Germany obliging Japan to give back the
Liaodong Peninsula to China, in order to seize any further Japanese expansionism.
The Chinese saw the 19th c as “the century of dishonor”, the Western powers
made further intervention in China after its defeat.The USA as well entered the
competition in 1899 afraid that the European and Japanese expansionism in China
threatened the American interests. China was unstable and weak; in contrast, the U.S
was the world’s richest country owning a huge productive economy, which made it
possible for the U.S to get involved in the imperial contest.
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The process, through which the U.S imperlized China, was gradual for many
reasons. First, the U.S was in a period of isolationism its army and policy did not
reach the same level of power as its economy “the United States did not keep a large
standing army, and in 1880s, the US navy was smaller than that of Chile. The
Americans did not shun military power” (Nye 11). The reason for neglecting the
military side was that the U.S at that time had no interest in territorial expansionism.
Its main concern was boosting its economic power as well as expanding its trade all
over the world. Therefore, it played a minor role in the military and the political scene
of the international arena. In this contest, joseph-S- Nye stated that the U.S following
George Washington’s advice to avoid entangling alliances and the Monroe Doctrine
therefore, it ended up with isolationism framing its relations with the European
powers.
However, American isolation changed and new attitudes took place in its
policy. The motive behind such a shift was a convention that the world’s countries
were occupied with a Darwinian battle for survival and nations that neglected to fight
were distend to decay. It was a good justification for the European powers to enlarge
their conquests and to gain new territories. The period between 1870 and 1900; the
European forces seized 10 million square miles of domain in Africa and Asia, a fifth
of the world's territory mass. Around 150 million individuals were subjected. As a
result, the U.S had to choose either to take part in the imperial mission and leading the
world or simply to surrender to decline.
As a first step the U.S. begun to imperlize islands that, nobody is controlling
such as Hawaii, Philippines and Guam. In 1849, Hawaii turned into a protectorate of
the U.S. This occurred through financial arrangements. These settlements prompted to
a development of American agents working in Hawaii. After some time, these agents
8
compelled the ruler to point of confinement voting rights to rich land possessors. The
greater part of these individuals were outsiders. From this time on, the Hawaiian
assembly was ruled by outside impact. The Bayonet Constitution: In 1887, the
American, European and excellent Hawaiian locals in the Hawaiian government
passed another constitution, stripping the government of its power using military
constrain to make the ruler sign it.
Ruler Liliuokalani3 (Hawaii empress, 1891) After her brother's death, rose to
the position of royalty in 1891, she began to rewrite another constitution for Hawaii,
which would restore the veto force of the government. It would likewise give voting
rights back to the poor local Hawaiians. Essentially, American and European agents,
most noticeably, Sanford B. Dole, who would not like to lose control, seized control
and had the Queen detained. These agents needed Hawaii added to the U.S. so it
would dispose duties on products from Hawaii and profit for Dole and his associates.
Hawaii had delighted in a duty free, favored exchange status through a settlement
marked in 1875. At the point when the McKinley Tariff experienced in 1890, it
definitely raised the cost of imports. Likewise, there were a need for a mid-Pacific
military base, as result the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands was required.
The Republic of Hawaii was formally settled on July 4, 1894. Sanford B. Dole
was the main president. The President of the United States, Grover Cleveland, and his
organization, examined and found that the expelling of Queen Liliuokalani was
illegitimate, and really needed the Queen came back to control. In any case, Hawaii
turned into a protectorate of the United States and in 1897, under President McKinley,
was made an American Territory.
Overtime, the U.S.S. Maine4 in 1898 detonated, causing the U.S to begin the
Spanish American War, which can be noted as America’s first emergence as a global
9
power. McKinley sent the U.S.S. Maine in order to support the Cuban cause and to
show Spain that the U.S could impose military force, if Spain did not find a quick
solution to the Cuban war for independence. Days after the fact U.S. warship, Maine,
was exploded outside of Cuban capital Havana. Consequently, under the pressure of
the American press, citizens blamed spine for the attack and demanded the
government to react.
Congress announced the war, on April 25, 1898, simply after embracing the
Teller Amendment5. Which made it clear that Spain ought to surrender her state of
Cuba and that Cuba ought to be an independent Republic. Following quite a while of
battling the Spanish, The American army who was then named the “Rough Riders”
and led by Theodore Roosevelt won the war.” In the short Spanish-American war of
1898, the United States took the colonies of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippine
from a declining Spain.”(Nye 11).
In spite of its guarantee from the Teller Amendment, that Cuba ought to be an
independent country, the United States set up a military government in Cuba and
made the fighters' withdrawal dependent upon the Cubans tolerating the Platt
Amendment, which Senator Orville Platt presented in February 1901. It permitted the
United States "the privilege to mediate for the protection of Cuban freedom. The
correction gave the United States the privilege to interfere in Cuba to ensure "life,
property, and individual freedoms." The change likewise gave the United States the
privilege to purchase or rent Cuban land for maritime bases.
Despite the fact that the battling with Spain in the Philippines had finished in
August 1898, American troops wound up with more fights to battle there keeping in
mind the end goal to affirm U.S. predominance over the district. The battling with
Filipino dissidents started therefore of the U.S. refusal to incorporate the Filipino
10
patriots in transactions over the eventual fate of the Philippines. The Philippines were
surrendered to the United States by Spain for $ 20 million by the Treaty of Paris,
marked on December 10, 1898. On December 21, President McKinley issued the
Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation, which illustrated his colonizing approaches in
the Philippines.
Gradually the imperialistic ideas were deeply rooted in the American policy
under the leadership of a group of moralist, one of which Henry Cabot Lodge,
republican senator, in this contest claimed that “the great nations are rapidly absorbing
for their future expansion and their present defense all the waste places of the earth. It
is a movement, which makes for civilization and advancement of the race” in other
words, the power of enlarging territories gives a nation its strength, position and glory.
Therefore, Henry stated clearly that it was the time for the U.S to emerge as a global
power emphasizing on the idea of expansionism saying it was the only way to create a
new powerful civilization. Thus, it was time to revers “isolationism to intervention” in
short the scramble for the territories was necessary.
Moreover, with the growth of the American economy, new global markets
were needed as well as raw materials. China was rich in resources and offered a
potentially large market for American goods. Yet China’s lost in front of japan
shacked its image in the international arena, and reviled how weak and unstable it
was. Consequently, after a while China was soon cut into territories ruled by
foreigners.
The U. S needed to abolish foreign colonization of China to keep its own
interests in its markets. In light of this objective, Secretary of State John Hay issued a
few outside strategy proclamations, which became referred to as the “Open Door
Policy” on July 15th, 1899. John Hay wanted to guaranty the equal access to China;
11
he made it open to trade with all foreign nations. However, it had the right to maintain
its independence so no country would control it. Taking into consideration that the
Chinese government did not take part in deciding whether to accept or to refuse such a
western dominance.
Although the U.S joined the imperial powers, yet its relation with China was
not so bad. The Sino-American relations witnessed a good connection and interaction
not only economically but also religiously and politically. The former was enforced
through the American missionaries in spreading Christianity in China. While the later
manifested itself when the U.S apposed Japanese expansion in the early 1930 since it
believed this violated the “Open Door” policy. America’s rejection to Japan’s
territories expansionism led the U.S to send its Pacific Navy to Pearl Harbor, where
Japan attacked it on December 7, 1941. When the U.S. entered the war, it flew
squadrons of B-29s from China, and sent it substantial amounts of aid. After the war,
the U.S. insisted that China be included as one of the five Permanent Members of the
U.N. Security Council (Dean).furthermore, the American political ideas concerning
the governing system inspired portion of the Chinese leaders.
At a certain level, America was the dream land of most the Chinese people.
they considered it to be a place where there were new chances at life. Numerous
Chinese moved during the California Gold Rush6, they aimed wealth and life of
dignity that China could not afford by then. Not to mention that the Chinese had a
major role in building a big deal of the American infrastructure as it is the case for the
Transcontinental Railroad. As a result, the U.S government was pleased of the
Chinese workers and their diligence to the extent that it approved treaty to empower
Chinese movement and promised them security from segregation (Dean 1). However,
this stability did not last for a long time and soon it transferred into another level.
12
1.2. Sino-American Relations: Reasons of Change
In the 19th century, China went under the Western dominance. The imperial
powers forced China to open for to the foreign trade. The Industrial Revolution in
Europe and the U.S had made a wide hole amongst China and the West, leaving China
behind innovatively and military. On the other hand, the U.S was on its way of
progress and its interests in China seized to be merrily economic therefore it took
different direction.
In that period, China faced enormous difficulties; it confronted all types of
complications, suffered from domestic crises likewise international conflicts because
of the imperial powers. The result was “anti-western sentiments” the hostility feelings
grew in Chinese youth. “The Boxer Rebellion, the 1911 Revolution, the triumph of the
Chinese Communist Party in the 1945-1949 Civil War, and the modernizing economic
reforms initiated by Deng Xiaoping - were driven by the basic of pushing back against
Western” (Layne 3).
1.2.1 Revolution Breaks out to China
In 1900, in what got to be clearly known as the Boxer Rebellion (or the Boxer
Uprising), a Chinese mystery association called the Society of the Righteous and
Harmonious Fists drove an uprising in northern China against the spread of Western
and Japanese impact there. The Westerners called them Boxers since they performed
physical activities. The Boxer rebellion spread to the Beijing zone, where the Boxers
attacked Chinese Christians, Christian teachers, places of worship, railroad stations
and other property. On June 20, 1900, the Boxers started an attack of Beijing's outside
legation locale (where the official quarters of remote negotiators were found.)
The next day, Empress Dowager Tzu'u Hzi7 (or Cixi, 1835-1908) announced a
war outside countries with diplomatic ties in China. The main reason for such a
13
rebellion was the outcomes of the two opium wars. Most of the boxers were Chinese
farmers “particularly from Shandong province” who suffered mostly from bad life
conditions such as famine and flooding. The farmers were unsatisfied with the current
situation of their government, especially after handing territorial prerogatives to
westerners in the area. They manifested their resistance via steady attacks on the non-
natives. However, “an international force of approximately 20,000 troops from eight
nations (Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom
and the United States) arrived to take Beijing and rescue the foreigners and Chinese
Christians” (History.com staff).
The boxers got a huge failure by the western powers in 1901, which cost China
“to pay more than $330 million in reparations.” Although the boxers did not win the
war, they succeeded in rising the Chinese awareness to made radical changes starting
with the government “In the meantime, armed uprisings against the Qing started to
rock the dynasty from below. On October 10, 1911, the revolutionaries in central
China staged the Wuchang Armed Uprising (武昌起义),proclaiming the end of Qing
and the beginning of the ROC (republic of China), setting off a Chain defection of the
provinces from the Qing” (David 37-38) and again left China in the middle of another
revolution.
The revolution of 1911 was an attempt to modernize China and restore its
legacy. The revolutionaries wanted to build governing system similar to the federal
government of the U.S However, the coming of the military man Yuan Shikai8 to
power reversed the expectations. He wanted to restore the dynasty rule, but he died
before he become an emperor. His death “plunged China into more than 10 years of
bloody internal warfare” (David 38).
14
Sun Yat-sen9, one of the famous Chinese leaders, set three main principals for
a prosper and unified China. First using military force to unify China; second
imposing authoritarian rule to develop China; and third applying constitutional rule to
keep peace and prosperity in China (David 38). Sun succeeded in building a strong
army that supported his political party the Kuomintang (KMT) also known as
nationalists. Thanks to sun’s ideology and the efforts of his followers; the ROC
government proclaimed the unification of China and it was its first step towards
modernization.
In 1921, Mao Zedong10 a military leader established new political party the
Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Before that, he occupied a librarian assistant
position at Beijing University. The half year he spent there played a major r ole in
shaping his future position, for it was then that he went under the impact of the two
men who were to be the chief figures in the establishment of the CCP: Li Dazhao and
Chen Duxiu11. Besides, he ended up at Peking University correctly amid the months
paving the way to the May Fourth Movement12 of 1919, which was to a huge degree
the wellspring of most of the movements that were to occur in China in the next half
century. Moreover, it was the period when he knew about the effective Russian
Revolution, which built up the communist Soviet Union. His writings at the time were
filled with references to the “army of the red flag” throughout the world and to the
victory of the Russian Revolution of 1917, but it was not until January 1921 that he
was finally committed to Marxism as the philosophical basis of the revolution in
China (Encyclopedia Britannica).
In 1923, the Kuomintang (KMT) nationalist party had allied with the CCP;
Sun Yat-sen started an arrangement of dynamic alliance with the Chinese
Communists. Mao therefore supported both the Kuomintang and the Communist Party
15
to defeat the warlords who controlled much of northern China. However, the alliance
did not last for a long term following the Chinese leader Sun Yat-sen death in 1925,
Chiang Kai-shek, who was, unlike Sun, extremely conservative, succeeded him. In
1927, the KMT leader Chiang Kai-shek launched an anti-communist purge (BBC). As
a result, Mao established a new base in northwest China along with his followers after
a 6,000-mile journey that is known as the ‘Long March’13. He also used his oratory
capacity in convincing volunteers to support his cause as he rose the top Communist
leader (Biography.com Editors). The Communists and KMT were again incidentally
associated amid the eight years of war with Japan (1937-1945), however soon after the
World War Two conflict between the two parties emerged again. Mao’s persistence
on implementing communist ideology, and the nationalist continuous rejection of his
approach, since it resembled the Soviet Union communism, lead China to the two
bloody civil wars (1927- 1949).
The U.S intervened and supported the national government militarily and
financially for two main reasons, first in order to gain strategic alliance against the
Soviet Union, second to ensure that China would remain divided. It was the longest
time of Sino-American pressure; Mao Zedong's Communists drove Chiang Kai-shek's
Nationalists into the island of Taiwan. On October 1, 1949, in Tiananmen Square,
Beijing, Mao announced the establishment of the People's Republic of China PRC.
Chiang Kai-shek and his followers fled to the island of Taiwan, where they formed the
Republic of China ROC (Biography.com Editors). American and Communist Chinese
powers battled each other aimed the Korean War, which started in 1949.
The relationship between China and the U.S tensed up because of the
communist expansions in Korea, which witnessed a border dispute among
communists and nationalist fronts. The first supported the Russian ideology while the
16
second embraced the American one, each side wanted to enlarge its territory and
control the other’s. As a result, the North Korean communists invaded South Korea; it
“came as an alarming surprise to American officials” so the U.S sent its troops in
order to weaken the communist involvement in South Korea. “As American troops
crossed the boundary and headed north toward the Yalu River, the border between
North Korea and Communist China” (History.com staff) the Chinese began to stress
over defending themselves from the coming aggression. Consequently, Mao Zedong
sent troops to North Korea in order to warn the U.S and to oblige its military forces to
stay away from the Chinese borders however, this warning transmitted into a real
intervention; On Nov. 25-26, 1950, China supported the Soviet Union and launched
the war on the U.S.
Mao entered the war not only in the contest of the cold war; yet to prove that
China is no longer a weak country. Likewise, he wanted to show his ability as a
leader. He defeated the nationalists and abolished the extra territories added to China
by the imperial powers; the American General Douglas MacArthur stated that the
Chinese had appeared “in great and ever-increasing strength” In the Korean War.
After a bloody conflict for two years and a half In July 1951 peace negotiations begun
by the President Truman nevertheless state of war still exists between North Korea
and South Korea until today.
Moreover, communist China threat against Taiwan in the 1950s drove the U.S
to the edge of nuclear battle and war in Vietnam in order to restrict the expansion of
Chinese Communism (Dean). The constant battling between the PRC and ROC in the
1950s caused equipped clash over the Taiwan Strait. During the 1950s, the PRC
bombarded the ROC islands. U.S. arrangement toward East Asia in the early Cold
War added to the pressures in the Taiwan Strait. In late 1949 and mid-1950, American
17
authorities were set up to let PRC powers to beat Chiang, yet with the beginning of the
Korean War in June 1950, the U.S in order to keep the Korean clash from spreading
south; delivered its Seventh Fleet (Military Naval Forces) into the Taiwan Strait. The
presence of the Seventh Fleet irritated the Chinese Communists, who exchanged their
troops as reaction for an attack of Taiwan to the Korean front. This served to postpone
military clash in the Strait until the United States pulled back its armada after the
Korean War. The U.S reacted by effectively mediating for the benefit of the ROC. It
“has made commitments to the defense of Taiwan first through the Mutual Defense
Treaty of 1954 (when the United States held the ROC government in Taiwan as the
legitimate government for the entire country of China) and then the Taiwan Relations
Act of 1979 (when the United States switched diplomatic recognition of China from
Taipei to Beijing”(Lai 52). Therefore, Taiwan remained one of the U.S. strategic allies
in Asia.
1.2.2. Prosper China and New Sino American Relations
Mao Zedong made a major accomplishment in reforming China. He begun
with initial monetary rebuilding, and a rebellious war against the U.S in Korea (David
41). Yet His dictatorship lead the country to another breakdown; he established
meaningless political movements like the “Great Leap Forward” campaign of 1958
and the “Cultural Revolution”. These two movements resulted a huge deaths number
of the Chinese people.
The “Great Leap Forward” was an attempt to boost both the industrial and
agricultural production. The program developed generous agrarian cooperatives with
upwards of 75,000 people working the ground. Every family got a share of the
benefits and a piece of land. Mao was very certain that his plan would work, trusting
the nation could make a century of headway in a couple of decades. However, nature
18
did not work for the plans favor; floods and unfruitful harvests ruined the crop.
Contrary to Mao’s expectations “within a year, an appalling famine set in and entire
villages died of starvation. In the worst man-made famine in human history, an
estimated 40 million people died of hunger between 1959 and 1961” Su Shachi, a
former communist official, described Mao as “more like Stalin than Hitler, but he was
responsible for more deaths than either of them” (Biography.com Editors). It was an
agrarian program that immediately marked the fall of Chinese agribusiness. Moreover,
rather than instantly reviewing the harm the high officials had brought about, they
carried on their program without paying attention to the farmers suffering. It turned
out to be certain that Mao knew how to run a revolution; however, he was not
qualified to run a nation.
Some activists in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) like Deng Xiaoping
tried to fix the situation but they failed. The aftermath of such irrational decisions
were completely destructive. Furthermore, and as a reaction to the reformers ideology,
Mao launched the so called the “Cultural Revolution” of 1966. Richard Salmon,
former U.S diplomat clarified “ Mao was a very purposeful manipulator of the
political process, he was creating chaos very purposefully as a way of getting control
of the party so he could reestablish his authority” (Biography.com Editors). He
reasserted his power over the Chinese government through revolution; trusting that
present Communist pioneers were taking China in the wrong way. Mao approached
the country's youth to clean the "polluted" components of Chinese society and restore
the progressive soul that brought triumph in the civil war. Thus, it was nothing but
another failure that lead the Chinese people to lose faith in their government.
After Mao’s death in 1976, Deng Xiaoping succeeded him; he based his
reforms in China on the economy, and launched the economic reforms in 1978 aiming
19
to convince the CCP leaders to focus more on building the nation’s economy rather
than its military. In addition, because his ideology was different, it was hard to believe
that he might offer China any further progress; in this contest, David Lai reaffirmed
saying that at first, few had anticipated that Deng would make anything astonishing.
However, by the late 1980s, his advancement approach began to turn China around.
The CCP followed the footsteps of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and
Singapore to seek riches via the export-oriented policy. Outside investments and joint
endeavors overwhelmed China and soon become the factory of the world (44). In
“Deng Xiaoping’s Early Economic Reforms” it is stated that:
The Deng reforms decentralized the state economy by
replacing central planning with market forces, breaking
down the collective farms and getting rid of state-run
enterprises. One of the most successful reforms the "within"
and "without” production plans; allowed businesses to
pursue their own aims after they met their state-set quotas.
Enterprises and factories were allowed to keep profits, use
merit pay and offer bonuses and other incentives, which
greatly boosted productivity.
By the mid-1990s, Xiaoping’s reforms resulted a notable success; China’s
local products began to fill companies everywhere throughout the world. Chinese
financial advancement had gained wonderful ground in three crucial measures of
national wealth, gross domestic product (GDP)14, trade, and energy utilization (lai 44).
Before 1979 the Chinese government presented a few monetary development
changes, the normal yearly genuine GDP development rate in China was evaluated at
20
5.3% (from 1960-1978) as per the Congressional Research Service. The figure
beneath shows how after the changes China's economy developed at a stunning rate.
SOURCE: http://www.coolgeography.co.uk
Deng worked on elaborating China’s economy as well as its foreign policy, he
accepted the western modernization and opened China for the foreign trade. During
his rule, President Nixon visited China in February 1972; that denoted the start of
another time in Sino-American relations. Nixon restored relations with the People's
Republic of China (PRC) believing that relations reforms with Beijing would adjust
the rising force of the Soviet Union during the Cold War for the U.S favor.
Furthermore, Kissinger was aware that Taiwan is the central reason of conflict
between People’s Republic of China and the U.S. therefore; “Kissinger quickly
indicated that the United States was prepared to abandon the island on a politically
expedient timetable. In return, they hoped the Chinese would push the North
Vietnamese into negotiations for a compromise peace; a peace that would allow Nixon
21
to withdraw American forces from Vietnam without appearing to have surrendered”
(Warren I. Cohen).
The meeting or as it was referred to the “Shanghai Communiqué” concluded
with the U.S recognition of Beijing as China’s capital. Yet formal Sino-American
diplomatic relations were delayed until Jimmy Carter’s administration 1979; because
of the Watergate scandal, which in return lead to Nixon’s reassignment. Jimmy Carter
finished US political acknowledgment of Taiwan in order to strength relations with
China. As a reaction to this decision, the congress established the "Taiwan Relations
Act"; which guarantees the U.S support to Taiwan with military aides, and any
Chinese intervention in Taiwan will be taken as direct threat to the U.S. Deng on the
other hand, needed to convey China nearer toward the West; however, he believed
that the Communist Party needed to stay in power. The outcome was the beginning of
China's financial rise, additionally the executing of protestors in Tiananmen Square in
1989.
The Tiananmen massacre kept the connection between the two countries
fragile as well as, a total corrupted image of China around the world. The U.S.
Congress voted to force financial compensations, against the People's Republic of
China since its government severely attacked peaceful manifestations; the Chinese
troops killed thousands of young protesters in Beijing who called for democracy and
asked for the communist government reassignment, and therefore it was a brutal
violation of the human rights. Consequently, China replied strongly, that its local
approaches are suitable. In addition, that its human rights record was good since it
succeeded in developing its infrastructure more over serving its citizens in all the
fields (education, health care and nourishing...).
22
Run up against the huge gap in power between the U.S.A. likewise, other
huge powers; China, as various countries, did not have much choice yet rather make
plans and improvements for preserving its security and achievements. In retrospect,
China’s adaptation to this post-Cold War reality has gone through three phases first,
seek to restore the damaged official relations with the U.S, June 4, 1989 and June
1994; second try to sustain the relationship ,June 1994–September 11, 2001; and third
seize new opportunities to expand and deepen the relationship September 11, 2001(
Zhao 45).
Dismissing Western requests did not imply that the Chinese government did
not wish to keep up and create relations with the West. In fact, it was definitely aware
of the way that it gravely required "peaceful international environment for domestic
reforms and development". In its attempt to secure such a situation, the Chinese
government concluded that it ought to take a serene stance on universal undertakings
to limit outside consideration on China and interventions with China's local reforms.
“Specifically, Deng Xiaoping proposed three principles for China’s foreign policy:
Lengjing guancha [carefully assess the situation]; Wenzhu zhenjiao [consolidate
China’s positions]; and Chenzhuo yingfu [calmly cope with the challenges” (Zhao
46).
China’s three foreign policy principles according to Zhao shifted the Sino-
American relations from dispute to confrontation than ended up with corporation. By
1994, China's quick financial advancement had gotten the world's consideration.
Numerous outside China started to switch their past evaluation that China would
crumble or fall. Rather they started to believe that China was rising. Some even
asserted that China would challenge the U.S. (Zhao 55).
23
1.3. The Power Transition Theory
“Power transition theory” can be defined as the ability of one nation to
advance its goals by altering the policy or policies of another. It uses economic,
demographic, and political factors to measure power (oxford digital dictionary). This
term first appeared in Kenneth Organski’s textbook, World Politics. He stated that
according to several aspects (political, military, economic) one country can achieve a
hegemonic power, which with time becomes challenged by other great power; in this
situation, war can be inevitable. The U.S and the People's Republic of China,
according to a great deal of researchers, are close enough to embody this theory. That
is, although they possess the biggest economies on the planet, as well as trade
exchanging relationship that shapes the worldwide economy; they have diverse and
frequently contradicting ideologies on numerous national security and outside strategy
issues. These encounters likely results changes at the level of the global leadership.
Historically speaking the world witnessed power transition from one empire to
another, as it is the case for Germany, Britain and the U.S. Each power took the lead
after a long period of battling that “Organski has it right that power transition is a long
process. For instance, it took Germany more than 70 years to catch up with Great
Britain. The transition of system leadership from Britain to the United States also took
more than half of a century” (Lai 17). Therefore, China and the U.S are ought to
become the same as the European forces of the 19th century. Joseph s. nay states “No
other state in modern history has had as much military preponderance as the U.S.
Some analysts call this American “hegemony” and compare it to British hegemony in
the nineteenth century. It is common to hear that the United States “appears to be
following in the footsteps of Great Britain, the last global hegemon” (13). In this
contest, same thing can be said on China, it gave considerable signs to follow the
24
footsteps of the U.S in the 19th century, and to become the next potential leading
hegemony. Geoffrey York, supports the idea by saying “The message is that “China is
on the verge of the same historic rise” (qtd. Zhao 20). Furthermore, Zhao as well
confirms that:
Observation was supported by a 2006 Chicago Council on Global
Affairs and the Asia Society survey, which found that 87 percent
of Chinese respondents thought that China should take a greater
role in world affairs. Most Chinese believed that China’s global
influence would match that of the U.S.A. within a decade. (20)
Therefore, the recent rise of China and its relation with the U.S creates great
challenge to the American hegemonic power nowadays. Consequently, in order for
China to rise it is necessary for the U.S to fall. Thus they corporate with each other yet
they do not trust each other due the fact that two components may truly influence or
even change the Sino- American relations and put them in a state of war. The first is
the Taiwan issue. In the event that the Taiwan experts keep on pushing for freedom, it
could make it politically important for the Chinese government to utilize power to
preserve its sovereignty. What's more the U.S intervention would be inevitable
therefore a Sino-American military conflict might happen” (Zhao 56). The second
reason is China’s political system “Some scholars fear that democracy can unleash
strong nationalism and popular nationalism can make China even more aggressive
toward the United States” (Ming Xia).
Conclusion:
China the peaceful rising power has to live with the post-Cold War World
super power the U.S. It kept a low profile in universal issues and played down its
falsification to being a worldwide power due to its worry that the current hole amongst
25
China and the advanced nations, besides the U.S. specifically, is tremendous as far as
national fortune, way of life, and innovation (Zhao 20). The quick rise of China can
not be taken as a peaceful rise as they claim; since as “Organski and Jacek Kugler
argue that shifts in the distribution of power create the conditions for great-power
conflict; and war looms when a contender’s national power narrows its gap with that
of the dominant nation” (David 8). Thus, naturally, the hegemonic power enjoys a
complete dominance over other territories. Therefore “peaceful rise” is a term that
China uses to speed likewise facilitate its rise, so that it can carry on with its
hegemonic race in a stable condition.
26
End Notes
1 document, which provided for the creation of five treaty ports for trade and
guaranteed Britain commercial rights in China 1842. (Britanicaa)
2 In the international politics, it is the claim by a state to exclusive or
predominant control over a foreign area or territory. The term may refer to a political
claim to exclusive control, which other nations may or may not recognize as a matter
of fact, or it may refer to a legal agreement by which another state or states pledge
themselves to refrain from interference within the sphere of influence.
3 Hawaii's first queen and final sovereign ruler before the islands were annexed
by the United States in 1898.
4 An American naval ship that sank in Havana harbor during the Cuban revolt
against Spain. Sent by the American president McKinley to protect American interest
in Cuba.
5 An amendment enacted on April 20, 1898. States that the USA would help
Cuba to gain its independence and then withdrawal all its troops from the country.
6 The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) began on January 24, 1848, when
gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The
news of gold brought some 300,000 people to California from the rest of the United
States and abroad.
7 A Chinese empress dowager and regent who effectively controlled the
Chinese government in the late Qing dynasty for 47 years from 1861 until her death in
1908.
8 was a Chinese general, politician and warlord, famous for his influence
during the late Qing Dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the
last Qing Emperor, his autocratic rule as the first formal President of the Republic of
China, and his short-lived attempt to restore monarchy in China, with himself as the
Hongxian Emperor. (Britanica)
9 leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party , known as the father of modern
China. Influential in overthrowing the Qing (Manchu) dynasty (1911/12), he served as
the first provisional president of the Republic of China (1911–12) and later as de facto
ruler (1923–25). (History.com staff).
10 principal Chinese Marxist theorist, soldier, and statesman who led his
country’s communist revolution. Mao was the leader of the Chinese Communist Party
(CCP) from 1935 until his death, and he was chairman (chief of state) of the People’s
Republic of China from 1949 to 1959 and chairman of the party also until his death
(Britanica).
11 Chen Duxiu was a founder of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP; 1921)
and a major leader in developing the cultural basis of revolution in China while Li
27
Dazhao was the cofounder of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and mentor of Mao
Zedong.
12 It is the name given to the student demonstrations protesting against the
decision at the Paris Peace Conference to hand over former German concessions in
Shandong province to Japan instead of returning them to China. But the term also
evokes a period of rapid political and cultural change, beginning in 1915, that resulted
in the Chinese radicals’ abandonment of Western liberalism for Marxism and
Leninism as the answer to China’s problems and the subsequent founding of the
Chinese Communist Party in 1921 (Britanica).
13 historic trek of the Chinese communists, which resulted in the relocation of
the communist revolutionary base from southeastern to northwestern China and in the
emergence of Mao Zedong as the undisputed party leader (Britanica).
14 Gross domestic product (GDP) is the monetary value of all the finished
goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period
(Investopedia).
28
Chapter two
The Rise of China and its Effect on the U.S Hegemony
The U.S starting from the 20th c spread its dominance all over the world, each of
The New International Economic Order15(NIEO) the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade17 (GATT) for worldwide exchange, were the first steps to reinforce its economy.
China as well is a very promising country; many politicians and economists tend to
believe that in the next few years China will be able to overtake the U.S. Moreover, the
term hegemony has always been related to the most powerful economic nation, which
apparently, the U.S is starting to lose (BBC. Chalmers Johnson news).
China’s emergence do not only affect the U.S economic hegemony it also effect
its policy and military. This chapter will discuss how China’s dramatic economic
growth and growing geopolitical influence will constitute an economic, military, and
political threat to the U.S. A furtherer examination will take place to figure to what
extent Chinese competitiveness can intimidate American hegemony via highlighting the
major events and circumstances that creates a major role in shaping the Sino-American
relations in order to answer the main controversial question whether China is a potential
future leader or a partner of the U.S?
1. Sino-American Competitiveness and Expansionism on the World Scene:
Present day China's power depends on its tremendous productive ability, the
significant investments, high profits, technological innovations and a protected domestic
market all these aspects corporate in China’s continual growth. Commercial progress
bound with a dependable military force founded on proper technological equipment
urged the U.S to do whatever it takes to preserve its hegemony from the Chinese threat.
29
Consequently, both China and the U.S remained in a constant economic, technological
and military competitiveness.
1.1. Economic Competitiveness:
To begin with, it is well known of the Chinese that they are hard workers, well
disciplined, extremely organized and most importantly, they do have a unique devotion
for work. This is why though China’s history witnessed challenging struggles and
humiliating failures, the competitiveness spirit of Chinese people lead them to
reconstruct their country. Chinese people, first, started with reforming economy in order
to reinforce China’s international position. Consequently, Chinese financial
improvement had gained remarkable ground in three key measures of national wealth. It
positions second after the United States as it surpassed Germany to become the second
biggest exchanging country in 2008 Likewise, it surpassed Japan in GDP size in 2010,
and in iron and steel production, China is the largest in the world (Lai 47). Moreover,
China effectively managed to balance its local stability as well as its domestic
consumption consequently; it boosted the economic growth as a result its imports,
which mainly goes to American markets, exceeded its imports.
China’s membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001 increased
its chances in elaborating its local industries and promoting for its products outside its
borders. Thanks to the efforts of Jiang Zeming and Zhu Rongji, who wanted China to be
an important actor in the worldwide economy. Furthermore, it established a great deal
of economic ties with the U.S as Suisheng Zhao states:
By 2006, the U.S.A. had become China’s second largest trading partner,
its largest export market and the sixth largest source of imports, and China
has become the second largest trading partner of the U.S.A., its fourth
largest export market, and the second largest source of imports. In addition,
30
China has become the tenth largest U.S. services export market since 2004
(103).
China has turned into the nation having the best exchange surplus with the U.S.
replacing Japan. Also it “positions second after the United States and overwhelmed
Germany to end up distinctly the second biggest exchanging country in 2008” ( Lai 44).
Suisheng Zhao states that “An OECD country survey said that China’s rapid economic
growth over the past two decades “represents one of the most sustained and rapid
economic transformations seen in the world economy in the past 50 years” (21).
The trade partnership grow rapidly between the U.S and China, however, the
U.S has a trade deficit with China a result of the trade imbalance between the two
nations. The U.S followed “Liberalization” economic system hoping that it would be
beneficial to the U.S trade, and increases its consumer surplus. Yet, liberalization
harmed a big number of industries especially those who face the consumer loss
problem. Consequently, the negatively influenced industries sought to reproach the
trade surplus of China. Thus, “the huge value has made some U.S. politicians uneasy.
They have assumed that the trade deficit with China has threatened the U.S. economy
and stolen U.S. job opportunities” (Zhao 104). Since, it was easy for the American
employees to search jobs opportunities abroad than solving the local problems; in this
case, China, the new economic power, is the preferable destination. Nevertheless,
although the trade imbalance has existed for over ten years and continues to expand, the
bilateral economic relationship is still mutually beneficial (Zhao 105). The U.S.A. has
additionally certain benefits from the exchange relationship. In terms that American
investors enjoyed access to a huge number of less expensive products, and ease buyer
and mechanical merchandise from China have stimulated U.S. monetary development
while paying attention to inflation (Zhao 106).
31
From 2001 to 2011, there was a switch in the Chinese-American economic
exchange surplice. Official figures provided by China showed an exchange surplus of
$295.5 billion. While the American ones reviled only $ 206.2 billion. Therefore, the
American statistics failed to estimate 89.3 billion. Moreover, it demonstrates the
contrast between the trading information from the two nations stocks from diverse
figures, for exports from China to the United States.
Whereas, the distinction between the U.S also, China figures for exports to
China has been $10 billion or less since, China's exports figures to the US shifted by
$48.0 billion in 2001 and $81.8 billion in 2010 “according to the WTO, the U.S. trade
deficit with China was less than half the U.S official figures or less than $115 billion in
2011” (Joseph 24). This can be explained by three reasons, first the U.S exports are
based on the Financial Access Survey (FAS) value; which is the sole source of global
supply-side data on access to and use of financial services by households and firms.
Whereas, China’s exports are based on Free On Board (FOB) value; which states that
the seller retains the risk of loss until the goods reach the buyer. In this context,
Suisheng Zhao gives a deep explanation, he states:
First, U.S. exports are based on FAS value and China’s exports are
based on FOB value. FAS is smaller than FOB. The second factor is
Hong Kong’s role in enter-port trade. The U.S.A., based on rules of
origin, treats China’s exports via Hong Kong to the U.S.A. as China’s
exports, but it does not include its exports to China via Hong Kong as
exports to China. Third, Hong Kong has also played a role in the value
added to China’s exported products via Hong Kong, yet in the U.S.
statistics, the value-added are all calculated in China’s account. (111)
32
The result was the U.S. official exchange figures belittling the
value on both U.S. exports to China and imports from China other
than Chinese government insights. Which in return influenced the U.S
rate trade negatively.
Figure 2.U.S. and Chinese Trade Figures, 2001-2011. (Billion U.S. dollars)
Source: The U.S. Economic Hegemony and the Rise of China
U.S Trade Figure
Chinese Trade Figure
Year
Exports to
china
(F.A.S)
Imports
from China
(C.V.)
Trade
balance
Exports to
United
States(F.O.B)
Imports from
United
States(C.I.F)
Trade
balance
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
19.235
22.053
28.418
34.721
41.837
55.224
65.238
71.457
69.576
91.878
103.879
102.280
125.168
152.379
196.379
243.462
287.773
321.508
337.790
296.402
364.944
399.335
-83.045
-103.115
-123.961
-161.978
-201.625
-232.549
-256.270
-266.333
-226.826
-273.066
-295.457
54.277
69.959
92.510
124.973
162.939
203.516
232.761
252.327
220.706
283.184
324.300
26.204
27.228
33.883
44.653
48.735
59.222
69.861
81.486
77.433
101.310
118.121
28.073
42.731
58.627
80.320
114.204
144.294
162.900
170.841
143.273
181.873
206.180
33
In terms of international financial transactions, the American dollar has been the
dominant currency in the world. China dollar reserves surpassed $3 trillion by 2011.
However, the United States encountered the most noticeable financial crises of 2008-
2009. The crisis was alarming to China and brought about across the board worries on
the security of its dollar resources. This urged Chinese experts to discuss changing the
monetary system. Consequently, the U.S. government reliably blamed China
manipulating its cash, saying that it is taking advantage of the American monetary
system shortage for its own good. This clearly indicates that the “Monetary disputes
reflect a power struggle between the two states” (Xiongwei Cao 112).” Secret meetings
have already been held by finance ministers and central bank governors in Russia,
China, Japan and Brazil to work on the scheme, which will mean that oil will no longer
be priced in dollars” (Robert Fisk).
China is the U.S largest creditor therefore; it is doing whatever it takes to reduce
its dollar dependency quickly and safely. In 2009, the Chinese government declared its
intention to be less dependent on the U.S. dollar as the single currency in the
international trade that is in case the American dollar disvalued China’s economy
remains safe. This is why instead of keeping its money in banks it invests it into large
properties around the world. “The rise of China a new superpower”.
By 2010, China displaced the US and Europe as the main trading collaborate in
many countries. It, also, has attempted to grow and give prominent profile to its
economic development in Asia, Africa and Latin America (petras). It established
friendly ties with Pakistan. It started with constructing the Karakoram Highway (KKH)
road, by which China and Pakistan are linked, in order to facilitate trade with Pakistan.
Furthermore, China worked on supplying Pakistanis with cheap products; in return, it
asked Pakistani government’s approval of establishing Chinese projects In Pakistan.
34
Pakistan welcomed the idea, and allowed China to build gas pipeline as well as it
constructed the Gwadar port in southern Pakistan. The port has strategic implications to
China’s economy; it gives access to the Arabian ocean and the Indian see, therefore, it
can be used as a trade gate all over Asia. Moreover, China competed the U.S over
Afghanistan as well. It interfered in the area for what is so called humanitarian reasons
however, it sought undeveloped source of raw materials in Afghanistan “the rise of
China a new superpower”.
In Africa, China promoted for its good reputation and intentions. It expanded its
trade as well as its investment and spread its infrastructure projects, which influenced
people in Africa positively. The monetary engagement, which China used in African
nations, is significantly powerful; especially that it is in line with the African nation's
requirements. In addition, China's expanding part as a worldwide superpower appears to
be promising, and this drives African economy’s strength ties more nearly to China's
economy.
The process that China followed in spending the American dollars and buying
considerable properties, lead some economists to launch the term “China buys up the
world”. China Petroleum and Chemical bought all of the oil and gas assets in Argentina
belonging to Occidental Petroleum for $ 2.5 billion dollar. It also announced plans to
buy 40 percent of the Brazilian operations of Spain’s Repsol for $7.1 billion. Which put
China’s oil and gas deals in Latin America at $13.3 billion in 2010. Before that, the
Aluminum Corp of China (Chinalco) started negotiating a $ 19.5 billion deal with the
world biggest primary aluminum company, Rio Tinto. China Minmetals paid $1.39
billion for the world’s number two zinc miner, Oz Minerals.
Furthermore, in order for China to ease its products marketing and to benefit its
exporters, it undervalued its currency the Renminbi (RMB) in 2005, which the U.S
35
politicians have seen as an unfair trade as it serves for China’s benefits since it gives
China the privilege to construct its industrial base. Moreover, they accused China as a
“currency manipulator” in The Washington Post; Howard Schneider reported that it is
“under U.S. laws that would allow the possible imposition of import taxes to erase any
advantage to Chinese companies from an undervalued Yuan”. Therefore, the Obama
administration has made its position very clear that “the Chinese currency exchange
level should be raised as well as the exchange rate regime should be changed”
(Xiongwei Cao 7). Consequently, Chinese government declared its attempt to make the
exchange rate more flexible; Facilitating worries that the nation's money approach is
harming the U.S. economy. Obama welcomed the idea and said it was “a constructive
step that can help safeguard the recovery and contribute to a more balanced global
economy” (BBC). In addition, China started to reduce the percentage of its reserves in
U.S dollars since the number has decreased from 74 percent in 2005 to 65 percent in
2010 “the fall of America and the rise of China”.
It was until 2015 when the International Monetary Fund17 (IMF) stated that the
Chinese currency was no longer undervalued against the dollar given its recent
appreciation (Bajpai). “Other analysts say the Chinese government has recognized that
liberalized currency rules help control inflation and will be important to China’s long-
term economic goals” (Schneider). Indeed, the renminbi quick internationalization
turned it into the world's eighth most exchanged currency in 2013 and ranking fifth in
2015. Therefore, in straightforward terms, this implies on the grounds that Chinese
investments in the American dollars cash as well as its excessive desire to promote for
its currency; extends advance in China than it would in the US. The following figure
gives a clear illustration that China's GDP is balanced upwards. Also, it will not take so
much time before China's economy outperforms the U.S 's by different measures, Both
36
the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund rate China as the world's biggest
economy in view of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). Other associations as The Center
for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) tend to predict that it will occur in 2029
(Willige).
FIGURE 3: Economic primacy
Source : https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/12/the-world-s-top-economy-
the-us-vs-china-in-five-charts
Furthermore, China’s efforts to threaten the U.S dollar enforced its diplomatic and
economic corporations with different nations from all over the world one of which is
Russia. The Bloomberg news reported that “China and Russia signed a three-year
currency-swap line of 150 billion Yuan ($24 billion) in October […] and the PBOC
(people’s bank of China) has signed currency-swap agreements with 28 other central
banks” to promote for the Yuan “as an alternative to the dollar for global trade and
finance”. The swap agreement indicates that the U.S dollars are no longer required in
37
the Sino-Russian commercial dealings. In “The demise of the dollar”, Robert Fisk states
that:
Gulf Arabs are planning along with China, Russia, Japan and France to
end dollar dealings for oil, moving instead to a basket of currencies
including the Japanese yen and Chinese Yuan, the euro, gold and a new,
unified currency planned for nations in the Gulf Co-operation Council,
including Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Qatar.
China has been taking considerable measure to back its currency, including
advancing free utilization of renminbi. In order to build a respectful and an international
frame and make sure that the dollar would not control any commercial dealings in the
future. So yuan or renminbi is set to develop rapidly and pick up significance on the
worldwide stage. On 1 October 2016, the RMB became the first Emerging Market (EM)
currency to be included in the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) special drawing
rights18 (SDR) basket, the basket of currencies used by the IMF. In recent years, RMB's
new part is an unmistakable affirmation of China's growth and its remarkable
development. As indicated by the Bank for International Settlements' 2016 FX
overview, the Chinese renminbi is the most effectively exchanged EM currency, having
surpassed the Mexican peso, and is positioned eighth overall (Teague).
While the 20th-century economic domination belonged to America, yet the
recently bilateral trade between the U.S and China is intertwined leaving the 21st-
century economic leadership in the hands of the two nations. Mentioning that the
American dollar is on the edge of losing its global status, whereas, the Chinese RMB is
gaining a powerful one. Taking into consideration that China used its economy not only
to promote for its currency it, also, used it to construct a good technological and
educational base.
38
1.2. Technological and Educational Competitiveness
It is a common knowledge that a leading force requires a strong army based on a
stable economy. However, these two elements will not be effective unless a successful
education system is adhered to, which in turn accelerates technological innovation that
rises any nation’s chance to occupy a hegemonic position. Both China and the U.S have
achieved these qualities with varying degrees.
There is no doubt that the Chinese quality is catching up quickly. The corner
stone for this is China’s educational system. It is highly effective and more influential; it
is based on “tests and exams”, students in China are compelled to pass exams in their
chosen high school or college. The system has experienced harsh criticism for being
"severe" and furthermore delivering "robots" rather than "learners." However, it is still
the ideal approach to furnish 1 billion individuals with a good education. Recently the
national higher education systems shows that China is rapidly making progress on the
U.S and Europe, and, by a few measures, has outperformed various G7 nations.
“Indeed, China is the most-improved country in the ‘Universitas 21 Ranking of National
Higher Education Systems 2016’, and moves up four places this year to be ranked 30th
out of the 50 national systems in the sample”. Consequently, Chinese colleges are
likably producing more engineers than those of the U.S. causing, as some theorists
called, “America’s education crises”. “War of education systems India and China vs.
USA”
Reports have demonstrated that the American state-funded educational system
neglects to adjust to this century, therefore, students are failing. Schools in China create
four times the quantity of secondary school graduates as the U.S. American college
students are relaying on their Chinese professors, many U.S firms are relaying on the
Chinese engineers. As it is the case for Bob Compton, the “two million minutes”
39
producer, stated, “I am investing companies all over the world; I am hiring people right
now in the high technology software and biotechnology companies, in India and China
and also the U.S. I am getting the best creative talent; the highest educated talent is in
India and China” (war of education systems). Time between 2000 and 2012, the
quantity of science and designing degrees from China expanded by 300 percent “And in
the realm of science and engineering education, China is overtaking the U.S. Around 49
percent of all bachelor's degrees in these fields come from China, while 33 percent
comes from the US” (Grush).
The outcomes of China’s successful educational system, paved the way for the
country to catch up with the U.S technologies and its artificial intelligence (A.I). Back
to the 1960s, the U.S was the first to own a military hegemony of the atomic weapons;
which In the 1970s “were shifted to smart weapons, based on brand-new Silicon Valley
technologies like computer chips” (Markoff and Rosenberg). However, during the
1980s, the development of the economical and all around accessible microchip
overturned the Pentagon's capacity to control innovative progress. Presently, “The
United States no longer has a strategic monopoly on the technology, which is widely
seen as the key factor in the next generation of warfare” (Markoff and Rosenberg). As a
result, Fast Chinese advance has confronted the U.S technologists as well as military
strategists; arguing whether the Chinese are only good imitators or are creative and
innovative that will soon overwhelm the U.S in the field. Therefore, Obama’s
administration set the “Third Offset” procedure in order to compete with China and
Russia over the future military and technological leadership.
Moreover, the National Science Foundation reported, “China ranks second in
high-tech manufacturing, where the U.S. maintains a slim lead with a global share of 29
percent to China's 27 percent. While China plays a smaller role in commercial
40
knowledge-intensive services (business, financial, and information), it has now
surpassed Japan to move into third place behind the United States and the European
Union”. A key example of China’s technological advancement is the Sunway
TaihuLight, the world's quickest supercomputer, China brought online in 2016 to be its
initial step in leading the innovation process; and stop working on manufacturing the
U.S designed devices (Markoff and Rosenberg).
Another example, Iflytek, an A.I company that has concentrated on discourse
acknowledgment and understanding regular dialect. The organization has won global
competition in discourse and in interpretation amongst Chinese-and English-dialect
writings. The organization in corporation with the Ministry of Science and Technology
works on “Humanoid Answering Robot”. Furthermore, China has started the
development of the “cruise missile system” based on high artificial intelligence; a
reaction to a rocket the U.S Navy is relied upon to convey in 2018 to counter
developing Chinese military impact in the Pacific. The new Chinese weapon
exemplifies a technique known as “remote fighting”. The thought is to assemble huge
armadas of little ships that send rockets, to assault a foe with bigger boats, similar to
plane carrying warships. (Markoff and Rosenberg).
As the most recent federal information indicates, the U.S is still the worldwide
pioneer in science, high technology, and engineering spending, representing 27 percent
of the world's aggregate R&D19 consumptions. In any case, East Asia keeps on rapidly
climb in numerous parts of science and technology, China precisely is catching up
quickly, making up 20 percent since it is conclusively the second biggest R&D
spending country. What's more, the period between 2003 and 2013, China's interests in
the territory have developed altogether. Every year, the nation's spending on R&D
expanded by a normal of 19.5 percent. Kelvin Droegemeier, the National Science Board
41
vice chair stated, “We very much celebrate the emergence of other countries doing
R&D. There is plenty of room for lots of players... It really is about US competitiveness
and making sure, we remain competitive. We've got to continue speeding up and
accelerating our investments” (qtd. Grush). Indeed, Chinese leaders have successfully
elaborated technological abilities as well as economic modernization, aspiring a
corresponding political prosperity.
1.3. Political Competitiveness:
China achieved astonishing economic prosperity as well as advanced
technological capabilities; however, it sought an equivalent social and political
predominance status in all fields. The soft power policy is a strategy, which both China
and the U.S are using in maintaining a worldwide acceptance for their existence in
foreign countries as well as gaining strong allies. “the soft power of a country rests
primarily on three resources: its culture (in places where it is attractive to others), its
political values (when it lives up to them at home and abroad), and its foreign policies
(when they are seen as legitimate and having moral authority)”. Naye
China maintained considerable economic power in addition a diplomatic
political system, consequently, no Asian pacific government has declared a clear anti-
China policy. It made sure to implement a good neighbor relations, and won North
Korea as strategic allay. It prevented the war between the two Koreas yet, it was against
their unification, since it is a hard task for China to keep control over such a large
territory. June 30, 1997, it formally regained its sovereignty over Hong Kong. As for
Taiwan, it always insisted that it is a domestic affaire. In other words, China asserted
itself to become a hegemonic power in Asia.
42
Furthermore, Russia, as well, is a strategic allay to China, the vast majority of
the Chinese leaders and elites got a good training from the Soviet Union in the 1950s,
Therefore, they do not see Russia as a threat believing that improving Sino-Russian
relations is for the good of China. Thus, China’s soft power promoted for its culture,
political system and social activities as a peaceful developed nation aiming to help the
world to become a better place, for instance, offering special aids for poor countries for
humanitarian reason Rewrite. A good example is its intervention in Afghanistan, and its
projects in Pakistan that were mentioned earlier. This was China’s ideology, rising in
peaceful conditions, in order, to avoid any external threat, which would shake its
stability. However, the U.S regarded this as an indirect endeavor to challenge the
American hegemony. Therefore, it worked to contain China’s rise; putting in mind that
this was U.S’s strategy since the post-cold war era, “we [must] endeavor to prevent any
hostile power from dominating a region whose resources would, under consolidated
control, be sufficient to generate global power” (qtd. Khilafa.com 12).
The US wanted to shake China’s hegemony in Asia. It has redesigned its
relations with Japan and has backed up Japanese calls for atomic improvement, this
would mean forsaking the decades old sacred protective arrangement; for the US this
would go about as a military stabilizer on China's Eastern front. On the Western one,
India has been seduced with monetary arrangements, the exchange of atomic innovation
and desire of lasting Security Council status. The US in a comparable way has
standardized relations with Vietnam covering its historic disputes creating new
associations with it. The US has effectively moved the Vietnamese to build
communication with it, breaking the deep-rooted Chinese connections to the pacific
locale. Vietnam keeps on having a regional question on its northern side with China.
43
In addition, the US has likewise utilized its contention with North Korea to
contain China. The American government has been extensively noiseless to the atomic
advance in Pyongyang contrasted with Iran, while China hosts been seeking after six
gathering talks attempting to guarantee its borders are not threatened. This gives an
appropriate defense for the US existence in South Korea as well as a good policy to
keep China’s expansionism in the pacific area under control (Khilafa.com).
Obama was the first American president who focused on the pacific area, he
announced himself as “America's first Pacific president”, since he directed the
American attention from Europe to Asia. Consequently, Obama’s administration
applied the “rebalance to Asia-Pacific” strategy, which influenced the Sino American
relations stability. Before Obama, when another US president took office, two-sided ties
between the US and China would first experience a few conflicts before coming back to
normal, the case for Obama was different. Obama’s strategy was a direct threat to
China. Jin Canrong explained the four principles of the strategy, he stated:
First, employing 60% of its navy and air force in the North Atlantic
while keeping 20% for home territory and the remaining 20% for
strategic mobility. The second is to create the Trans-Pacific Partnership
(TPP), a trade framework that excludes China. The third is the use of
what Hillary Clinton calls “smart power” in diplomacy, which is
actually to take advantage of China’s conflicts and disputes with its
surrounding countries to drive wedges among them. The fourth pillar is
to continue its contact with China (Canrong).
Obama, aimed to restrain the Chinese dominance in the area “implying that there
used to be a balance in Asia, but it had been broken by the rise of China and therefore
44
needed to be “rebalanced” by the US” (Canrong). However, the strategy raised the
competitiveness spirit in China. It made it aware of the American threat; therefore, it
worked harder in order to employ its technological progress in strengthening its military
forces. Jin Canrong continued to argue; the avoidance of China from the TPP has
likewise urged China to propel its Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
(RECP), Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) and in addition its “One Belt,
One Road” activity, and provoked China to lead the making of the BRICS Development
Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Beyond the Asia- pacific neighborhood, China directed its interest to the Middle
East developing connections and building friendly relations with its governments. The
Middle East offers a good market in consuming China's products, presently it is the
biggest product provider for the region. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iran, and Egypt import
more from China than from some other nation. Chinese companies are gaining contracts
for building, development, and foundation improvement ventures. As a result of China
expanding its footprint in the Middle East, the American policymakers has intensified
the prospects of a strategic competition “increased Chinese military capabilities,
coupled with rising U.S.-China tension in the western Pacific, could feed back into the
Middle East, igniting such a competition” (Calabrese).
2. China vs. the US: is China a Future Leader or Partner of the US
The rapid growth of China in all the fields gives it a strong position all over a
world; however, its rise remains disliked by the U.S as it threatens its hegemonic
position. Although China is promoting for its peaceful rise saying that it is only a
developed country aiming no territorial expansionism neither competing the U.S over
its hegemony. Yet, the fact that it is rapidly gaining strong national position “does not
45
mean that China would sacrifice its core national interests, nor does it suggest that
China will abandon efforts to enhance its defense capabilities” (Zhao55). Therefore, as
some analyst’s states, “China is a sleeping lion, and when she awakes, the world will
shake”. Some theorists of international relations argue that rise of a new great power
often leads to war, either because the rising power uses force to change the international
system to suit its interests or because the existing leading power launches a preventive
war to preserve its position while it still has the capabilities to do so (Brown).
China has limited its split with the US, as well as exhibited more key activity, as
exemplified by the idea of "another kind of real power relations", which was proposed
by President Xi Jinping amid his meeting with Obama at the Annenberg Retreat in
California in June 2013. The characterizing components of this kind of relations are "no
contention or encounter, shared regard and win-win collaboration". The US can totally
acknowledge "no contention or encounter," yet not "common regard". The US can
likewise in part acknowledge "win-win participation". For instance, the two nations are,
pretty much, willing to coordinate on issues, for example, hostile to psychological
oppression, atomic security and environmental change. As such, Obama has neither
rejected nor acknowledged the development of this new sort of respective relations.
Regardless of whether the US can acknowledge this idea or not, the unsuccessful
rebalance technique of the US has enabled China to pick up the key activity with a
slight high ground (Canrong).
46
Figure4: Super Power Showcase
Source : http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2013-06/china-vs-united-states-
infographic.
The info graphic looks at the two countries on everything from GDP and
unemployment to education rates and military uses. Deciding the best superpower is,
obviously, subject to how the superpower is characterized. If it is related to GDP per
47
capita, online networking, and gold decorations at the 2012 Olympics, the United States
seems to win. Whereas, China wines, in case that it is related to GDP development and
exports. Yet, there is no doubt that the chart, clearly, shows China's emergence in
approximately all the fields.
Still, it is not in the U.S. favor to confront with China or else to declare a war on
it. Both China and the U.S. are the biggest economies and nations with the most
grounded exhaustive national quality of the present-day world, they have built up a
profound associations, and shaped an indivisible group of shared interests, on both local
and worldwide levels; participation benefits both, whereas, showdown harms both. In
the Opening remarks at the first U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, Barak
Obama stated, “We can’t predict with certainty what the future will bring, but we can be
certain about the issues that will define our times. And we also know this: The relation-
ship between the United States and China will shape the 21st century. . .” (Hechtkope).
This is a significant explanation of the Sino- American relationship. From one
perspective, the President flags that the U.S no longer able to shape the world
exclusively, thus, it needs to welcome China to help with the mission.
48
End notes
15The New International Economic Order (NIEO) was a set of proposals
put forward during the 1970s by some developing countries through the United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development to promote their interests by
improving their terms of trade, increasing development assistance, developed-
country tariff reductions, and other means. It was meant to be a revision of the
international economic system in favor of Third World countries, replacing the
Bretton Woods system, which had benefited the leading states that had created it
– especially the United States.( Investopedia)
16The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was formed soon
after World War II ended. The GATT was a trade treaty implemented to boost
economic recovery. The primary purpose of GATT was to increase international
trade through by eliminating or reducing various tariffs, quotas and subsidies
while maintaining meaningful regulations.(Investopedia)
17The intergovernmental organization that oversees the global financial
system, it is the most influential financial organization in the world economy.
18Special drawing rights (SDR) refer to an international type of monetary
reserve currency created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1969 that
operates as a supplement to the existing reserves of member countries. Created in
response to concerns about the limitations of gold and dollars as the sole means
of settling international accounts.
19 R&D Research and development (R&D) refers to the investigative
activities a business conducts to improve existing products and procedures or to
lead to the development of new products and procedures.
45
General conclusion
Post-cold war the U.S arranged the worldwide framework according to its
interests, as any previous hegemony. However, China’s rise made the U.S prestige
vulnerable to threat. That is China’s astonishing ability to overcome its historic
failures and backwardness goes back to many reasons. First, Mao Zedong efforts in
unifying the nation’s territories that were curved by the imperial powers. Moreover, he
continued the struggle and led the communist party to reconstruct the nation’s political
and economic system. The second reason is The Deng Xiaoping reforms; he
implemented his economic ideas in the Chinese system, and opened China’s markets
for national trade, as well as, he made a shift from heavy industry to consumer-
oriented industries. Furthermore, he boosted the foreign investments and trade and
allowed the city tenants to begin little scale organizations. He additionally, allowed
normal Chinese to purchase buyer products; and forced extreme populace controls that
included constrained premature births to confine families to maybe a couple children.
Deng contributions made China more prosperous and a stable nation.
China has been progressing significantly on the innovative front. The last five
continuous years, China positioned first as the patent filings. In every field, there are
numerous Chinese players competing against a set number of a few organizations
from different nations .By mid-2016, China's GDP exceeded that of the US with 12
percent. As the Nature Index stated China’s total contribution to high-quality science
has risen to become the second largest in the world, surpassed only by the US. In spite
of the U.S direct monetary recuperation and enhanced employment figures, its
economy stays fragile, loaded with a further split society. Not to mention that China is
building new relations all over Asia, Latin America, Africa and even the mechanical
West, on account of the nation's titanic interest for row martials.
46
These circumstances confirmed the fact that China is a potential next leading
hegemony. Which in return, sparked worries and resulted in verbal confrontation in
every single world capital. The U.S precisely resisted China’s growth and did what it
takes to keep it under control. Nevertheless, China continues its rapid apprising to the
extent that it poses a serious threat to the U.S legacy almost in all domains
economically, technologically, and politically.
Some researches tend to believe that China’s rise will not remain peaceful,
they rapidly perceive such grandiosity as overcompensation for an uncertain sense of
self, and note that it can bring about rash attitude. As a matter of the fact, China
promotes for its peaceful attitudes, saying that t is a merely apprising country. This is
in way resembles the U.S isolationism of the 19th c; by then the U.S did not aspire any
territorial expansionism; moreover, it supported the national sovereignty of peoples
and called for human rights and freedoms. However, the moment it gained economic
and political supremacy, the U.S changed its ideology to run the world according to its
interests. Consequently, China’s quiet ascent is a term that China uses to speed and
encourage its ascent, so it can go ahead with its hegemonic race in steady conditions.
The short answer to this study’s questions is, the U.S is still the leading
power, yet, there is no doubt that it is on its way to lose this status. Therefore, it is not
preferable for U.S. to defy with China or else to proclaim a war on it. Both China and
the U.S. are the greatest economies and countries with the most developed affiliations;
they formed an unbreakable gathering of shared interests, on both nearby and overall
levels. Consequently, Obama's administration enhanced correspondence between the
U.S and China and even balanced the power between the two nations.
47
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