The United States and the Macrosecuritisation of the “China Threat”
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The United States and the Macrosecuritisation of the “China Threat” Jun Yan Chang BSSc (Hons), MSc 0000-0002-6183-2199 A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2020 School of Political Science and International Studies Abstract The so-called “China Threat” theory suggests that a rising China is a threatening one, especially challenging US international leadership. However, despite significant literature examining the extent to which a rising China constitutes a security threat, very few analyses examine whether China has been represented or “constructed” as a threat. Has China been constructed as a threat by the US government itself? If it has done so, how has the rest of the international community responded to such US depictions? In order to determine the extent to which the US has represented a rising China as a threat to international security, and whether this has succeeded in the relevant audiences, this dissertation adopts a discursive approach novel to the extant literature. It does this through the Copenhagen School’s securitisation theory, which sees security as constructed when the label of “security” is applied. More specifically, through integrating the positive contributions to the study by the three key debates of securitisation theory since its introduction, as well as accounting for the macro-scale of China’s rise, this dissertation develops a post-Copenhagen macrosecuritisation theory that is more appropriate to the research questions. In examining US representations and practices using this post-Copenhagen macrosecuritisation theory, this thesis finds that from 2006-2016, the time period of this study, the US has overall consistently represented China’s rise as a security risk to the Asia-Pacific across the military, political, economic and environmental sectors, but not as a threat. Moreover, within the audience states of Indonesia and Singapore, such US representations have only been partially accepted. In clarifying these arguments, this thesis both contributes to the conceptual literature on securitisation and addresses a relative absence of the application of discursive frameworks to the question of the “China threat”. (86,931 words) i Declaration by Author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, financial support and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my higher degree by research candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the policy and procedures of The University of Queensland, the thesis be made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968 unless a period of embargo has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis and have sought permission from co- authors for any jointly authored works included in the thesis. ii Publications included in this thesis No publications included. Submitted manuscripts included in this thesis No manuscripts submitted for publication. Other publications during candidature Peer-reviewed Journal Articles: Chang, Jun Yan and Nicole Jenne. "Velvet Fists: The Paradox of Defence Diplomacy in Southeast Asia." European Journal of International Security, 5:3 (2020), pp. 332-349. Jenne, Nicole and Jun Yan Chang. "Hegemonic Distortions: The Securitisation of the Insurgency in Thailand’s Deep South." TRaNS: Trans-Regional and -National Studies of Southeast Asia, 7:2 (2019), pp. 209-232. Chong, Alan and Jun Yan Chang. "The International Politics of Air Disasters: Lessons for Aviation Disaster Governance from Asia, 2014-2015." Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 31:3-4 (2018), pp. 249-271. Book Chapters: Chang, Jun Yan. "Conscripting the Audience: Singapore’s Successful Securitisation of Vulnerability." In National Service in Singapore, edited by Shu Huang Ho and Graham Ong-Webb, pp. 83-103. Singapore: World Scientific, 2019. Contributions by others to the thesis No contributions by others. Statement of parts of the thesis submitted to qualify for the award of another degree No works submitted towards another degree have been included in this thesis. iii Research involving human or animal subjects No animal or human subjects were involved in this research. iv Acknowledgements The poet, John Greenleaf Whittier, wrote in “Maud Muller” that: “For of all sad words of tongue or pen,/The saddest are these: ‘It might have been!’” My fondest dream when young has always been earning a PhD. I am most grateful for having the chance to fulfil my dream. It would never have been possible without the support of many throughout this journey. My supervisors, Matt McDonald and Andrew Phillips, have been invaluable. Andrew’s perspicacious feedback has prodded me to do better. Matt has been exemplary and inspirational. He is who I want to be when I grow up (and take my own students). My deepest gratitude to Andrew and Matt. The S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies has been integral to my PhD. Not only did it fund my PhD, my mentors and colleagues there have also given me the opportunities, tools and space to do my research and writing, as well as support other aspects of my work. Special thanks go to Ang Cheng Guan, Alicia Cheung, Alan Chong, Ralf Emmers, Joseph Liow, Ambassador Ong Keng Yong, Sng Seow Lian, Adrian Tan, Jenny Tan and Tan See Seng. I am also indebted to many friends and colleagues (past and present) in the Military Studies Programme, the library and other departments. In particular, Caroline Chin, Ho Shu Huang, Collin Swee Lean Koh and Angela Poh kept me sane. Being a remote student has been challenging, but it would have been a lot tougher without the awesome administrative support from Muriwai Vanessa Salam, Marja Knuutilla, Tom Court and Kirstin Woodward. I would also like to thank everyone who has been to my milestones – especially my readers, Jessica Kirk (twice) and Raditya Kusumaningprang – for their feedback on earlier drafts of this thesis. It is only thanks to my family’s support that I could be writing this. I wish I can meet my mother in the hereafter to tell her about this journey. Chang Jun Yan Bellewoods, Singapore 31 August 2020 v Financial support This research was supported by a scholarship from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. Keywords Securitisation, United States, China Threat, international security. Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classifications (ANZSRC) ANZSRC code: 160606, Government and Politics of Asia and the Pacific, 20% ANZSRC code: 160607, International Relations, 80% Fields of Research (FoR) Classification FoR code: 1606, Political Science, 100% vi To my parents and favourite wife vii Table of Contents ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. I DECLARATION BY AUTHOR ........................................................................................... II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................... V TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. VIII LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES ...................................................................................... X LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................. XI 1. INTRODUCTION: “PEACEFUL RISE” OR “CHINA THREAT”? ............................ 1 THE QUESTION .................................................................................................................................................... 1 THE THEORY ....................................................................................................................................................... 3 THE STRUCTURE .................................................................................................................................................. 9 THE CONTRIBUTION .......................................................................................................................................... 13 2. THE “BLUE DREAD” CHINA THREAT THEORY ................................................... 16 INTRODUCTION: YELLOW PERIL TO RED MENACE TO BLUE DREAD ................................................................. 16 CONTAINMENT TO ENGAGEMENT: US-CHINA SECURITY RELATIONS SINCE