CHINA’S PERCEPTION OF THE US: AN EXPLORATION OF CHINA’S FOREIGN POLICY MOTIVATIONS Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy In the Graduate School of the Ohio State University By Biwu Zhang, BA., MA ***** The Ohio State University 2002 Dissertation Committee: Approved by: Richard K. Herrmann _____________________ Anthony Mughan Adviser Ted Hopf ABSTRACT “China threat” has been one of hotly debated topics since the early 1990s. But there have been very few systematic attempts to test the relevant propositions in this debate. This dissertation is an effort to test the China threat thesis. The author argues that a test of the China threat thesis requires addressing two fundamental questions: whether China has the capabilities to challenge the international system and whether China has the motivations to do so. As there has been an abundance of scholarly works focusing on the subject of China’s capabilities, and hardly any systematic efforts to address the subject of China’s motivations, this dissertation will offer a systematic study of China’s motivations, i.e. to see whether China is a status quo or a revisionist country. For this purpose, this dissertation resorts to an image approach. The author argues that the formulation of a state’s foreign policy is affected basically by two considerations: the national interest involved in bilateral relations and key characters of a target state. Consequently, image study as an approach to study a state’s foreign policy should ii include these two parts. In terms of the interests involved in the bilateral relations, this project will explore the Chinese perception of threat from the US, namely how interactions with the US are perceived as harming China’s national interests, the Chinese perception of opportunity from the US, namely how relations with the US are perceived as serving China’s national interests, and the Chinese perception of American power/capabilities, namely how Chinese perceive the US as superior, similar, or inferior to China and other countries in various major dimensions of national power. In terms of key characters of the US, this project will explore China’s perceptions of American politics and economy. In doing so, the author will try not only to update the description in the existing literature, which usually focus on the Chinese perceptions before and around 1990, but also to structure the description so as to shed light on China’s foreign policy orientation. The conclusion as to whether China is a status quo or a revisionist country will be reached by exploring how consideration of national interests and how China’s perception of key characters of the US affect China’s foreign policy orientation. A summary of the dominant Chinese images of the US will also contribute to understanding China’s motivations vis-a-vis the US. iii Dedicated to My Parents iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS As I look back at the years of study and research in the OSU, my heart is filled with gratitude for all of those who have helped me one way or another throughout this journey. I will be able to mention only some of them here. My most profound gratitude goes to Prof. Richard K. Herrmann, the chair of my dissertation committee, whose theoretical framework, intellectual insights, and frequent advice are essential to my research project. I am equally grateful to Prof. Kevin J. O'Brien, a former member of my dissertation committee, who, together with Prof. Herrmann, helps me solve some of the most difficult problems. Profs. Mughan and Hopf give me indispensable assistance in the process. Profs. Mughan and Herrmann are kind enough even to offer me significant help with the English expressions. During my days as a Ph. D. student in the Department of Political Science, I have learned invaluable lessons and/or received significant help from the following respectable professors: Paul A. Beck, Donald A. Sylvan, David M. Rowe, Chadwick Alger, Judith Kullberg, Margaret Hermann, Brian M. Pollins, and Randall L. Schweller. Years of financial assistance from the OSU, the Department, and a research funding v from the Mershon Center contribute greatly toward the final completion of this dissertation. A special word of thanks is owed to Lianjiang Li who has done for me much more than one would normally expect from a friend. It would have been impossible for me to proceed with this dissertation without the generous and untiring assistance from my parents. Jae, Qinyi, Abby, Stella, and Yingru share with me the ordeal during my extended efforts to earn this degree. vi VITA October 11, 1957 ...................................... Born - Fuzhou, Fujian, China 1982 ......................................................... B.A., Fujian Normal University, China 1984 ......................................................... M.A., Xiamen University, China 1985 - 1992 ............................................... Translator and Researcher, Taiwan Research Institute, Xiamen University, China 1993 - 1994 ............................................... Foreign Affairs Office, Xiamen Municipal Government, China 1994 – 2000 ………………………….…. Graduate Research and Teaching Associate, The Ohio State University 2000 - present ........................................... Working on the Dissertation SELECTED PUBLICATIONS 1. Biwu Zhang “An Analysis of Taiwan’s Application for GATT Membership.” Taiwan Research Quarterly, No. 2, (1992). 2. Biwu Zhang “An Analysis of Factors Affecting US-Taiwan Relations.” Taiwan Research Quarterly, No. 4, (1992). 3. Biwu Zhang Contending Approaches to the Political Economy of Taiwan (translation). Lujiang Publishing House, Xiamen, China, (1992); Renjian Publishing House, Taipei, (1995). vii 4. Biwu Zhang Foreigners in Taiwan (translation). Writers’ Publishing House, China, (1996). FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Political Science Areas of Emphasis: International Relations Comparative Politics; and Chinese Politics viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ......................................................................……............…....…................... ii Dedication ..........................................................................…….........….…….............. iv Acknowledgments .....................................................................…….....….....……....... v Vita ..............................................................................................…..……..….…........ vii List of Tables ..........................................................................…....……….………... xviii List of Diagrams …………………………………………………..……..…..……..… xxi Chapters: 1. The Research Question ......................................................................…….….…...... 1 1.1 The Puzzle .........................................................................................…...………. 1 1.2 The Research Question and Literature Review .................................……....…..... 3 2. Methodology .......................................................................................…..…….….. 22 2.1 Image Study as an Approach to Explore China’s Motivations Toward the US ………………………………………………………………….….….. 22 2.2 Key Decisions Regarding Image Study ...........................................…………….. 27 2.2.1 The Perceivers ...............................................................................…..….….... 28 2.2.1.1 Approaches in the Existing Literature .....................................…………... 28 2.2.1.2 The Perceivers in This Dissertation .......................................…..………. 31 ix 2.2.2 Source Materials ..............................……..….........….....…........................… 32 2.2.2.1 Approaches in the Existing Literature …..........................................…....... 32 2.2.2.2 The Source Materials in This Dissertation… ..............................…............ 42 2.2.3 The Perceived .............................................…….....................................…..... 48 2.2.3.1 Approaches in the Existing Literature ............…............…............….…... 48 2.2.3.1.1 Issue Areas .................................................….................…........…...... 49 2.2.3.1.2 Dimensions .....................................................…...........…...............…. 52 2.2.3.2 The Perceived in This Dissertation ...........................….....……............…. 56 2.2.3.2.1 Dimension I: Why Study Capability? ......................…..……..........….. 57 2.2.3.2.2 Dimension II: Why Study Threat and Opportunity? ...…..….........…... 59 2.2.3.2.3 Issue Area I: Why Study Chinese Perception of American Politics? ……………………………………………..…..………..... 63 2.2.3.2.4 Issue Area II: Why Study Chinese Perception of American Economy?..........................................................…........….....…....... 67 3. Chinese Perception of Threat from the US ..........................................….……........ 70 3.1 Methodology ...............................................................................….......……....... 70 3.2 Whether China Perceives Threat from the US? ....................................…....……..73 3.3 The Contents of Chinese Perception of Threat from the US .............…...…....... 74 3.3.1 Threat to China’s National Security ...............................................….……..... 75 3.3.1.1 Territorial integrity .....................................................…..............………... 75 3.3.1.1.1 Taiwan .........................................................................…....……....…..