Critical issues relating to China and global security as written for Prof. Keith Hansen, Sierra Nevada College 2015

Issue Description:

Critical issues relating to China and global security.

China’s long proud history began long before democracy (as the US defines it) existed.  Reaching back as far as the first century, China has a long and proud history of dictatorship that evolved through a revolution in 1949 which led to the installation of a communist government, and a, “…Complex mix of intensifying [international] diplomacy, growing international rivalry, and increasingly intertwined [international] economies.”  Communism, cyber terrorism, a global dependence upon rare Earth material, an international dependence on Chinese exports, economic instability, and fear of nuclear proliferation are among the top global concerns regarding China.

Additionally, China suffers from overpopulation, China does not share democratic values/ ideologies, maintains a nuclear arsenal, and relies on the following three structural components to form its foreign policy: One; Sovereignty, to maintain cultural and political stability.  Two; to keep China’s large population in check.  Three; development, to feed and secure the Chinese people.  Further, China wants to be seen as a super power, has a history of sensitivity to domestic disorders caused by foreign threats, and has an aging population that is composed of a diverse group that includes Chinese Nationalists, as well as different religious and ethnic groups.

Further, China has a need for Iran’s oil which has resulted in China’s need to protect Iran thusly complicating negations and nuclear non-proliferation efforts being made by the United Nations (UN) with Iran.  India is the largest democratic nation in Asia which has led to several conflicting interests between the two nations.  Taiwan, composed of primarily separatist Nationalists, is still considered by China to be within Chinese territory, however, the Taiwanese do not consider themselves to be part of China which complicates relations between China and several democratic nations including the United States.  To further complicate matters, China is currently building a string of islands in what has been traditionally considered international waters (the South China Sea).

International tools being used to address China’s global objectives:
The United Nations (UN), and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) are currently being utilized as a forum to maintain international peace, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and treaties like the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) are being used to monitor global nuclear weapon/ energy activities, and organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) are working to direct and coordinate international health within the UN system.

Additional steps the International Community can take to deal with China:

Working with China diplomatically through negotiations, treaties, and NGO’s combined with a common vision that promotes global peace is the best path to incorporating China’s ideology into the International Community.  Using the IAEA to rid the world of nuclear weapons further promotes the interests of global nuclear nonproliferation and prevents China from cheating, reduces and prevents the reckless sale or theft of nuclear materials, and promotes a healthier more peaceful international community.  Finally, incorporating rather than ex-communicating China’s economic interests into a global strategy for International economic sustainability will further encourage a more peaceful International community.

Sources:
Council on foreign Relations; http://www.cfr.org/china/us-relations-china-1949---present/p17698
In Class Notes
Strohecker, Lena; INTL 420 review
Worldwide threat Assessment of US Intelligence Committee, Senate Armed Services Committee (2015); Clapper, James R.
LeRoy, MeiLi; INTB 465 review
Global Issues #5.1 China’s Search
Global Issues #3.4 China’s Bad Earth
Global Issues (Payne) pp. 38-39