The Dragon's Will The Exercise and Limitation of China's Power from Pyongyang to Khartoum

China's growing power has led to many discussions on how Beijing will use its economic growth, military capabilities, and soft power in its regional and global foreign relations. Today, two predominantly Western misconceptions prevail. One is that China is going to use its newly acquired power to undermine the position of the West, especially that of the US. The other is that China is not doing enough to advance the international principles it claims to support. The selected case studies show how China uses a long-term perspective and holistic approach to problem-solving, rarely moves away from its foreign policy goals and principles, even when tactical changes are being considered or implemented. Further, they highlight how Chinese diplomacy can be seen as the continuation of the traditional moral persuasion and Beijing's recognition of the cost of exercising power.Written by an expert in Chinese foreign policy and security, The Dragon's Willoffers a scholarly, thoroughly researched appraisal of China today and the impact of its ascendance to regional --and increasingly global-- prominence.

Jing-dong Yuan is the Director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies and Associate Professor of International Policy Studies at the Graduate School of International Policy Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies, US. He is the author of China-ASEAN Relations: Perspectives, Prospects and Implications for U.S. Interests and China and India: Cooperation or Conflict?

IntroductionChapter One -- China's Rising Power and Its Implications: Myths vs. RealityThis chapter reviews recent literature on China's rise and discusses some of the contentious issues related to measurement, sustainability of China's growth, hard vs. soft power, and the fungibility of power resources between issue areas, from one country to another, and over time. Chapter Two -- Comrades No More: The Enigma of Beijing-Pyongyang RelationshipThis chapter discusses China's long-standing ties with one of its most important client states-North Korea, including Beijing's evolving policy toward the Korean Peninsula, the balance between the two Koreas, and China's recent efforts in facilitating the resolution of the nuclear crisis. Chapter Three -- China and Pakistan: The All-Weather Relationship?Over the years China and Pakistan have developed and maintained close political and military ties, including significant Chinese arms transfers as well as nuclear and missile assistance. Beijing and Islamabad describe theirs as the "all-weather" relationship, which is deeper than the ocean, higher than the mountain, and sweeter than honey. Despite the political upheavals and changes in both countries, the relationship appears to remain solid.Chapter Four -- China and Southeast Asia: Soft Power on Display?Since the mid-1990s China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have developed a close partnership in security cooperation and economic/trade interdependence. The current state of China-ASEAN relationship is truly remarkable compared to the late 1980s and early 1990s when Beijing had yet to establish or normalize diplomatic relations with key ASEAN member states, and when the concerns over the "China threat" drove Southeast Asia's armament and military buildup and a regional security arrangement to keep the United States engaged. This chapter describes and discusses how Beijing uses its newly acquired "soft power" to advance its interests, from the Taiwan issue to the U.S. presence in the region.Chapter Five -- China's Inroads into Africa: Oil, Image, and the Use of InfluenceChina's pursuit of energy security has led it to regions beyond its traditional diplomatic focus, such as Central Asia and Africa, where a number of countries have become important suppliers of raw materials and oil to meet China's ever growing appetite for resources. In the process, Beijing seeks to separate economics from politics with a strong tilt toward gaining and securing commercial interests. However, in recent years, human rights issues and growing international concerns over the plights of such regions as Darfur have put China on the spot. There is increasing international pressure on Beijing to exercise its influence over Khartoum to stop the genocide. This puts China in an uncomfortable position of balancing its international image as a responsible power and balancing its pocket book of commercial interests, especially where oil is concerned.Chapter Six -- Unassuming or Assertive Patron? How Beijing Exercises PowerThis chapter reviews the four above case studies and looks at how Beijing exercises its power and influence to advance its interests. It examines both the extent to which power is fungible and the trade-offs that confront Chinese policy makers as they make what sometimes can be regarded as difficult choices. It will determine where, and under what conditions Chinese exercises of power have succeeded (and how we define and measure "success") and where limitations are revealed.Conclusion