The Risk of Applying Realpolitik in Resolving the South China Sea Dispute: Implications on Regional Security
College
College of Liberal Arts
Department/Unit
International Studies
Document Type
Article
Source Title
Pacific Focus
Volume
27
Issue
2
First Page
262
Last Page
289
Publication Date
8-1-2012
Abstract
This paper examines the regional security implications of China's realpolitik approach in its territorial claim over the South China Sea. It observes that China uses the following power-politics tactics: (i) citing a historic claim; (ii) applying a bilateral approach to weaken ASEAN; (iii) relying on a divide-and-rule stratagem in dealing individually with ASEAN member states and creating a wedge between ASEAN and the USA; and (iv) buttressing its naval capabilities to resolve the territorial dispute according to its own terms. This consequently has driven the small claimant states, like Vietnam and the Philippines, to adopt a balancing strategy that involves the USA in the issue. In conclusion, the paper argues that with China's realpolitik approach, the idea that Europe's (violent) past is becoming East Asia's future is turning into reality. © 2012 Center for International Studies, Inha University.
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Digitial Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1111/j.1976-5118.2012.01084.x
Recommended Citation
De Castro, R. (2012). The Risk of Applying Realpolitik in Resolving the South China Sea Dispute: Implications on Regional Security. Pacific Focus, 27 (2), 262-289. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1976-5118.2012.01084.x