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Is China Destined to Play High-politics in East Asia?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 November 2016

MOHD AMINUL KARIM
MOHD AMINUL KARIM*
Affiliation:
China Foreign Affairs University, Beijing, and the Asia-Europe Institute, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur [email protected]
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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to project China's emerging path towards high politics in East Asia, which is ostensibly spawned by regional geopolitical dynamics. Hegemonic transition, replacing hegemonic stability, is seemingly activating the dynamics. There is almost an inexorable move towards predominance, by the two major powers, that tends to get stimulated by the presence of issues that may trigger conflict, possibly war. These issues range from flashpoints to populist nationalism, economic interdependence, nuclear issues, and alliance relations in the Western Pacific. The paper concludes, by highlighting, likely resultant action–reaction cycles, polarizations, and alignments through the varying array of forces, possibility of war, mutual deterrence, and above all projecting overall power relations.

Type
Research Article
Information
Japanese Journal of Political Science , Volume 17 , Issue 4 , December 2016 , pp. 545 - 567
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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