Russia's new 'pivot to Asia' increases the global significance of Russia's Siberia and Far East. The contributors - recognized experts from Russia, China, South Korea, Japan, Norway and Singapore - analyze political, economic, social and geostrategic roadblocks in the Russia/Asia Pacific relations, offering directions for further development.
This book is open access under a CC BY license. This book explores if and how Russian policies towards the Far East region of the country – and East Asia more broadly – have changed since the onset of the Ukraine crisis and Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Following the 2014 annexation and the subsequent enactment of a sanctions regime against the country, the Kremlin has emphasized the eastern vector in its external relations. But to what extent has Russia’s 'pivot to the East' intensified or changed in nature – domestically and internationally – since the onset of the current crisis in relations with the West? Rather than taking the declared 'pivot' as a fact and exploring the consequences of it, the contributors to this volume explore whether a pivot has indeed happened or if what we see today is the continuation of longer-duration trends, concerns and ambitions.
In the 21st century, with China’s rise and the United States(U.S.)’ relative decline, the U.S.-China relationship together with strategic environment in Northeast Asia is changing. China is expanding its influence from Northeast Asia to Southeast Asia and Central Asia. As a result, China is forming a new type of ‘check and balance,’ and ‘cooperation and conflict’ with the U.S. in Southeast Asia and Russia in Central Asia. Such changes in China’s foreign relations policy and strategy as well as the strategic environment in Northeast Asia will have a higher possibility of influencing the unification on the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, it is necessary to precisely analyze the international situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula and to examine China’s foreign relations with countries in Northeast Asia, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. This research provides the analysis of China’s external relations policy in these three regions to understand the international circumstances surrounding the Korean Peninsula. The research aims to form the basis for the future unification diplomatic strategy. The first part of this book explains China’s major diplomatic relationships towards four East Asian countries: Japan, Russia, North Korea, and Taiwan. This chapter particularly provides a keen analysis of developments of each relationship and discusses how China initiates its diplomatic strategy and embodies its four major diplomatic relationships. Next part analyzes China’s aggressive foreign policy in Central Asia. This part suggests that China’s active policies towards Central Asian countries during the past decade is due to the increased importance of the region to China for the following aspects: national security, geopolitical location, energy and market. Considering the aforementioned factors, China’s enhanced influence in the region and intensified relations with the neighboring countries are mainly examined. The last part explores Southeast Asia’s foreign policy in the context of the rise of the G2 rivalry, focusing on Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar. This part emphasizes the importance of Southeast Asia for the U.S. and China from a geopolitical perspective. Then, it goes on how each nation formed and developed its relationship with the U.S. and China, what each country’s national interest is, how they influence their foreign polices toward the two big giants, and how each country shape their policies in response to the conflictual and suspicious relationship between Washington and Beijing. In sum, this study provides an in-depth analysis of China’s overall diplomatic strategy. It is particularly significant for the policy-makers in South Korea and other countries to understand China’s external relations in the transitional situation on the East Asian regional level as well as on the global level. Keywords: Changes in East Asia’s Strategic Environment, Strategy of Unification Diplomacy, China and Southeast Asia Relations, China and Central Asia Relations. Introduction Part 1. Northeast Asia and China’s External Relations Ⅰ. Xi Jinping Administration’s Policy towards Japan Ⅱ. China-Russia Relations Ⅲ. North Korea-China Relations at a Transition Ⅳ. China-Taiwan Relations Part 2. Central Asia and China’s External Relations Ⅴ. China’s Policy towards Central Asia under the Xi Jinping Leadership Ⅵ. Central Asian States’ Responses to China’s Expansion of Power Part 3. Southeast Asia and China’s External Relations Ⅶ. Cambodia’s Relations with China and the U.S.: Norms, Interests, and a Balancing Act Ⅷ. Conflict Management and Peace Making in Myanmar: Effort and Its Effects Ⅸ. Myanmar’s Reforms and Opening the New Chapter with ASEAN Ⅹ. Learning from the Past: Vietnamese Foreign Policy in a Changing World
From 30 January to 1 February 2019 the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center forSecurity Studies hosted a Department of Defense Regional Center collaborationtitled "China's Global Reach: A Security Assessment." The goal of the workshopwas to leverage expertise and unique perspectives from all five Regional Centersto examine the actions and intentions of the People's Republic of China. To understand how these global activities impact the United States, this analysis was conducted within the context of the PRC's perspective of its own foreign policy, as well as under a state of strategic competition, as referenced in the 2017 National Security Strategy and 2018 National Defense Strategy. The workshopleveraged the insights gained from a broad range of experts to formulate policyrecommendations for defending state interests in the face of growing PRC assertiveness. Thescholarship, insights, and recommendations of the participants are collected in this volumefor the benefit of policy-makers, practitioners,and scholars.
For almost 2 decades, China and Russia have been strengthening their security ties. Nonetheless, as this monograph makes clear, the relationship between Beijing and Moscow remains in flux. In some cases, they share overlapping interests. In other instances, they compete for power and wealth, particularly for oil and gas resources. Many factors will affect Sino-Russian ties? including developments within China and Russia as well as external events. As part of this mix, American policies will also have some impact on the future foreign behavior of both countries. -- Foreword.
Few relationships have been as misunderstood as the "strategic partnership" between Russia and China. Official rhetoric portrays it as the very model of international cooperation: Moscow and Beijing claim that ties are closer and warmer than at any time in history. In reality, however, the picture is highly ambiguous. While both sides are committed to multifaceted engagement, cooperation is complicated by historical suspicions, cultural prejudices, geopolitical rivalries, and competing priorities. For Russia, China is at once the focus of a genuine convergence of interests and the greatest long-term threat to its national security. For China, Russia is a key supplier of energy and weapons, but is frequently dismissed as a self-important power whose rhetoric far outstrips its real influence. A xis of Convenience cuts through the mythmaking and examines the Sino-Russian partnership on its own merits. It steers between the overblown interpretation of an anti-Western (particularly, anti-American) alliance and the complacent assumption that past animosities and competing agendas must always divide the two nations. Their relationship reflects a new geopolitics, one that eschews formal alliances in favor of more flexible and opportunistic arrangements. Ultimately, it is an axis of convenience driven by cold-eyed perceptions of the national interest. In evaluating the current state and future prospects of the relationship, Bobo Lo assesses its impact on the evolving strategic environments in Central and East Asia. He also analyzes the global implications of rapprochement between Moscow and Beijing, focusing in particular on the geopolitics of energy and Russia-China-U.S. triangularism.
Relations between China and Russia have evolved dramatically since their first diplomatic contact, particularly during the twentieth century. During the past decade China and Russia have made efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and improve cooperation on a number of diplomatic fronts. The People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation maintain exceptionally close and friendly relations, strong geopolitical and regional cooperation, and significant levels of trade. In The Future of China-Russia Relations, scholars from around the world explore the current state of the relationship between the two powers and assess the prospects for future cooperation and possible tensions in the new century. The contributors examine Russian and Chinese perspectives on a wide range of issues, including security, political relationships, economic interactions, and defense ties. This collection explores the energy courtship between the two nations and analyzes their interests and policies regarding Central Asia, the Korean Peninsula, and Taiwan.
Korea Focus is a monthly webzine accessible at (www.koreafocus.or.kr), which includes editorials, columns, features, interviews, and essays on Korean current affairs and related international issues. Since its inception in 1993, the journal has served as a foremost source of objective information on Korea, contributing to a broader understanding of Korean society and promoting Korean Studies among academic institutions and policy think tanks abroad. The articles are selected from leading Korean newspapers, news magazines, and academic journals. * In addition to the webzine, the content of Korea Focus is available via e-book service for mobile devices. Those who are interested in subscription may register their email address at the website.
Fiona Hill and other U.S. public servants have been recognized as Guardians of the Year in TIME's 2019 Person of the Year issue. From the KGB to the Kremlin: a multidimensional portrait of the man at war with the West. Where do Vladimir Putin's ideas come from? How does he look at the outside world? What does he want, and how far is he willing to go? The great lesson of the outbreak of World War I in 1914 was the danger of misreading the statements, actions, and intentions of the adversary. Today, Vladimir Putin has become the greatest challenge to European security and the global world order in decades. Russia's 8,000 nuclear weapons underscore the huge risks of not understanding who Putin is. Featuring five new chapters, this new edition dispels potentially dangerous misconceptions about Putin and offers a clear-eyed look at his objectives. It presents Putin as a reflection of deeply ingrained Russian ways of thinking as well as his unique personal background and experience. Praise for the first edition: “If you want to begin to understand Russia today, read this book.”—Sir John Scarlett, former chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) “For anyone wishing to understand Russia's evolution since the breakup of the Soviet Union and its trajectory since then, the book you hold in your hand is an essential guide.”—John McLaughlin, former deputy director of U.S. Central Intelligence “Of the many biographies of Vladimir Putin that have appeared in recent years, this one is the most useful.”—Foreign Affairs “This is not just another Putin biography. It is a psychological portrait.”—The Financial Times Q: Do you have time to read books? If so, which ones would you recommend? “My goodness, let's see. There's Mr. Putin, by Fiona Hill and Clifford Gaddy. Insightful.”—Vice President Joseph Biden in Joe Biden: The Rolling Stone Interview.
Comprising 60.3 percent of the world’s 7.2 billion population, Asia is an enigma to many in the West. Hugely dynamic in its demographic, economic, technological and financial development, its changes are as rapid as they are diverse. The SAGE Handbook of Asian Foreign Policy provides the reader with a clear, balanced and comprehensive overview on Asia’s foreign policy and accompanying theoretical trends. Placing the diverse and dynamic substance of Asia’s international relations first, and bringing together an authoritative assembly of contributors from across the world, this is a reliable introduction to non-Western intellectual traditions in Asia. VOLUME 1: PART 1: Theories PART 2: Themes PART 3: Transnational Politics PART 4: Domestic Politics PART 5; Transnational Economics VOLUME 2: PART 6: Foreign Policies of Asian States Part 6a: East Asia Part 6b: Southeast Asia Part 6c: South & Central Asia Part 7: Offshore Actors Part 8: Bilateral Issues Part 9: Comparison of Asian Sub-Regions
