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Understanding China's regional rise: interpretations, identities and implications

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Breslin, Shaun. (2009) Understanding China's regional rise: interpretations, identities and implications. International Affairs, Vol.85 (No.4). pp. 817-835. ISSN 0020-5850

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2346.2009.00829.x

Abstract

The literature on China's regional rise reveals divergent understandings of why China changed its regional strategy and when such a transformation occurred. There are also different understandings of the extent of China's power in the region—or more often, the extent to which US power in East Asia is already challenged by China's regional rise. Nevertheless, there is a consensus of sorts over how Chinese policy has changed with an emphasis on a combination of proactive diplomatic initiatives and ever increasing economic interactions. After providing a brief overview of the existing literature, the main part of this article considers the role of China's 'soft power' in reconfiguring power relationships in East Asia. It suggests that while the US might have lost some of its ideational appeal, it is through working within existing frameworks and 'norms' (rather than establishing new revisionist alternatives) that China has had most success in assuaging fears of the consequences of its rise. However, the way in which others conceive of China's rise and Chinese power (and subsequently act) does provide a form of 'non-hard' power that might help China's leaders attain their regional objectives particularly in light of the continuing global economic crisis.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	J Political Science > JZ International relations D History General and Old World > DS Asia
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Politics and International Studies
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	ASEAN, International relations, Regionalism -- East Asia, China -- Foreign relations -- East Asia, China -- Foreign relations -- United States, China -- Politics and government, East Asia -- Politics and government
Journal or Publication Title:	International Affairs
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
ISSN:	0020-5850
Date:	July 2009
Volume:	Vol.85
Number:	No.4
Number of Pages:	20
Page Range:	pp. 817-835
Identification Number:	10.1111/j.1468-2346.2009.00829.x
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Version or Related Resource:	A Portuguese translation appears as Breslin, Shaun (2010). Entendendo a ascensão regional chinesa: interpretações, identidades e implicações. In: Nedal, D. and Spektor, M. ed(s). O que a China quer? Rio: FGV.
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/671