The evolution of the foreign policies of the People’s Republic of China and the United States of America with regard to the South China Sea : to what extent are these foreign policies confrontational?

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to analyse the foreign policies of the People’s Republic of China and the United States of America in order to establish in which ways and to what extent they are confrontational. In order to do this, a number of events and polities will be taken into account in order to dissect the main reasons for the perceived confrontational nature of these two foreign policies. A general timeline for detailing the changes undertaken by the foreign policies of the two above mentioned states shall be provided in order to better understand the historical reasons and events that generated these dynamic developments with regard to the South China Sea. As it will become apparent, regarding many issues in the South China Sea these two countries adopted certain opposing positions, thus one of the main aims of this paper is to establish what strategic goals each side has, in which ways they pursued them, and to what degree they can be perceived as aggressive towards the other state. The initial aim of this study’s literature review is to highlight academic views analysing the goals, strategic interests and foreign policy instruments pursued by the two states in the South China Sea. A subchapter is also dedicated to highlighting academic views on the importance of natural resources and geopolitical implications in the South China Sea. After the review of literature, the theory that best highlights and supports the potential reasons for the assumed confrontational nature of these foreign policies shall be analysed. In the empirical chapters of this dissertation, this study shall focus on comparing how certain issues pertaining to the South China Sea are interpreted differently by the two states in question, and each of the two main chapters shall seek to explain the varying national approaches of these issues. Ultimately in the conclusion the present and future risk of conflict shall be assessed.