Dealing with the Dragon: A Historical Analysis of the Motivations for United States Interaction with China
Open AccessThe majority of historiographical research regarding Sino-American relations has traditionally been interpreted based on economic interest. Though recent studies have begun to explore other bases for Sino-American relations, the so-called China Market, consisting of hundreds of millions of potential customers, still remains the most cited basis for American interest in China. This interest in economic gain drove the United States to establish relations with China in the 19th century, and is seen as the reason why the United States has maintained relations with China despite mounting evidence of human rights violations, particularly following the Tiananmen Square demonstrations in 1989. In contrast, I argue that not only was the "China Market" a myth, as some prominent historians have argued,1 but the role of the China Market in U.S.-China relations is actually also a myth. This changed in the late 1980s as the US overemphasized the power of a market economy and has since failed to utilize additional measures to influence China in world affairs. As a result, the US has become more compliant to Chinese demands in regards to modern policy making that is not in line with the best interests of the US economically or strategically in Asia, a position that will be further exploited by China in the future.
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