Thomas
Shelton
Even though China has amassed a
significant amount of international political influence as well as economic
strength, I do not believe that China will ever replace the western order. By proposing
the League of Nations after the First World War America had established its interests
and dominance in a western centered international council. With America being designated the international
peace keeper because of its many military and humanitarian interventions it has
created a large influence and political ties to multiple nations. The lack of
these characteristics by the Chinese government will halt any chances of
eastern order because economic influences alone no matter how large will never
overturn the current order.
China will never replace the western
order because along with being able to set the standard and rules for international
relations they also must take over the responsibilities of being leading nation.
When
America became the leading world power it was also given the responsibility to
protect other nations from governmental regimes and terrorist groups. America
has intervened in countless nations in an effort to stabilize the country, some
examples of the countries would be Vietnam, Korea, Lebanon, Thailand, the Congo,
and Cambodia along with numerous other nations. By intervening in this
countries the U.S has established a connection with them as well as fulfilling its
responsibilities to protect others. Chinas foreign policy on the other hand is
built off the idea that nonintervention is the best way to remain a peaceful and
successful nations. By adopting this idea china has effectively denied its responsibility
as a super power to help maintain the stability and order in smaller nations.
Even when it comes to humanitarian aid America has provided aid to nations such
as Haiti, India, Ethiopia, North Korea, and Indonesia after devastating famines,
tsunamis, locust plagues, etc. (PBS). China has absolutely no interest in
aiding these countries and as China’s power grows they will become subject to exponentially
more criticism for their stance on this topic which will cause other nations to
favor keeping the western oriented order.
While China undoubtedly has one of
the strongest economies in the world because so many nations America included
rely on Chinese manufacturing and resources however, China lacks the military
strength that America has. With a rising nation such as china war is always on
the list of options even though it maybe the very last choice it must still be
considered. China may have the largest population long with nearly double the
active military of America but, what America lacks in soldiers it makes up for
in armaments and defense spending. The U.S spends on average seven hundred
billion dollars a year on its military while china only spends a sixth as much.
America also has the largest naval and air forces in the world, a brief example
of this is the amount of aircraft carriers in services for both nations;
America has ten supercarriers currently in service with three more in the
making while china only has four decommission soviet carriers and two of their
own in the making. Even though a war between the world’s greatest super powers
would most likely be the end of the human race, military might must still be
considered if the western order is to be overturned peacefully.
Even though China is quickly approaching
America’s position as the leading super power I do not think that it will ever
be capable of replacing the set of standards and rules that the west has
created. Economic strength and population will not be enough to overturn an order
that has been in control for over sixty years because China lacks the humanitarian
and military influence that the U.S has accumulated.
"Timeline: United States Foreign Aid." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/timeline/famine/>
Of course, the US also had an isolationist foreign policy built on a certain type of non-intervention prior to its ascension to world hegemon
ReplyDeleteI would point out that many countries when they are first entering power seem to isolate themselves or don't intervene in the affairs of other countries. If the theory on military power is accurate it is built on population and wealth and China seems to be growing in those two areas more then any state on the planet. Isn't it possible that as China reaches a certain level of power they will then begin to intervene in other countries in an attempt to enhance their sphere of influence and dominate the region and or globe? I would also suggest the reason China may not ever replace the Western Order is not because their incapable but simply the fact that they like it due to trade policies of the United States.
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