Research On USA Obama Administration’s Geostrategy Toward South China Sea

As the most influential outer-regional great power, USA has conspicuous effect onthe situation of the South China Sea. From geostrategic perspective, it is Americanultimate aim to maintain the sea-power advantage in the area of South China Sea,guarantee mastery of the rimland, be on guard against rise of big powers from Eurasiaas well. In addition to large-scale military presence that America remained in this area,USA had paid serious attention to keep economic contact with ASEAN countries afterthe end of cold war. Although America was anxious that China had been rising sharply,it was still unwilling to meddle in the dispute of South China Sea overmuch untilObama comes to power, soon afterwards, USA has begun to adopt strategic guideline tointervene the South China Sea comprehensively. This thesis will study the reason whyObama alters nonintervention attitude that America has assumed previously, theinternational environment that USA situates itself in, the geopolitical strategic targetwhich America adopts and the step USA will take to fulfil other strategic objectives.There is an overall presentation about this paper in the introduction part whichincludes the reason why the author selects this topic as well as the practical andtheoretical significance. In the meantime, the article attempts to straighten out therelations among the South China Sea, the countries that surround South China Sea andthe South China Sea area, as well as to establish the connection by defining the coreconcepts. Based on the existing research achievements at home and abroad, the articleanalyzes the points where the present research hasn’t concluded. Eventually, illuminatethe methods that have been adopted, the innovation points that have been discoveredand the deficiency on account of difficulties during the research.The first chapter has analyzed the fundamental reference system of geostrategy inthe South China Sea that Obama Administration has adopted, and considered that there has been specific theoretical system and historical origin for the geostrategy instead ofhaving never been created from whole cloth, therefore, this chapter has regarded ObamaAdministration’s follow of American geopolitical theory and inheritance of Americangeopolitical strategy as key point. Making use of geopolitics thoughts of scholars suchas Mahan, Spykman, Brzezinski, etc. as macroscopic guidance for Obama’s geostrategyto the South China Sea, which has proceeded from American geopolitics ideology,subsequently, it is reasonable, by means of analyzing historical evolvement of USA’sgeostrategy of the South China Sea, to dialyze strategic enlightenment which has beenprovided for Obama Administration.In the second chapter, the article has studied international environment forObama’s geostrategy of the South China Sea, which is to say, the realistic referencesystem for the geostrategy, based on the research, this thesis has considered analysis forinternational environment in which Obama Administration’s geostrategy of the SouthChina Sea has suited as the basis of research on strategic target and strategic layout.Therefore, grounding on the analytic hierarchy process, Obama Administration’sadjustment for Asia-Pacific strategy, Power shift of the South China Sea, Theintensification of dispute of the South China Sea, and the interference of otherouter-district great powers which make influence on Obama’s geostrategy for the SouthChina Sea have been analyzed emphatically. To be specific, Obama Administration’sgeostrategy of the South China Sea is included in Asia-Pacific strategy, which signifiesthat there is inevitable guiding role for the adjustment of Asia-Pacific strategy togeostrategy for the South China Sea, in the meantime, as part of the South China Sea,the rise of China has been targeted by Obama Administration’s geostrategy of the SouthChina Sea, nevertheless, aggravation of the dispute of the South China Sea has suppliedadvantageous condition for America to interfere the South China Sea. The interventionof other outer-district countries not only aggravates issue of the South China Sea butalso alters geopolitics pattern of the South China Sea, which have been most significantfactors for Obama Administration who are enacting geostrategy target for the SouthChina Sea.Paying attention to Obama Administration’s strategic target and strategicfoundation of geostrategy of the South China Sea, the third chapter has divided intothree parts: containing and balancing the rise of China, achieving national interests of USA in the South China Sea, making beneficial geostrategy environment of the SouthChina Sea for America. It is analyzed that, being based on which, some majorelement—most powerful military that American has owned, strategic military baseswhich have been occupied and strong military presence and deterrence that hasmaintained in the South China Sea, have been studied. As followed behind, occupyingthe top of the world economic structure, America has unparalleled technologicalsuperiority and maintain the tremendous trade share in the economic exchanges with theneighboring countries surrounding the South China Sea.Because of the construction oftight system of formal and quasi allies, development of security relationship, meanwhile,the positive participation in multilateral cooperation mechanisms in the region of theSouth China Sea, America has formed great impacts to the neighboring countries and inthe region, in both political and security aspects.The main content of the fourth chapter is to analyze geostrategic track that ObamaAdministration has implemented in the South China Sea, divided into three parts:politics, security and economy. Referring to politics, by making active involvement inregional cooperation mechanism that has been oriented by ASEAN, intervening in theSouth China Sea issues and tightening political cooperation relationship with countriesaround the South China Sea, Obama Administration has not only elevate Americaninfluence in this region, but also contained China, with the political union broadened.Speaking of security, America has been increasing input in security of the South ChinaSea, including intensifying military deployment in the area of South China Sea,supplying military assistance for ally and launching military exercise with themregularly, in addition, USA has participated positively in security interaction withcountries outside the region, such as Japan, India and Australia, which has intended tostrengthen military control as well as to deter China. When it comes to economy, USAhas focused on bilateral economic dealings with countries at the rim of the South ChinaSea, in the meantime, roped actively in this countries to access the Trans-PacificPartnership Agreement that has been dominated by USA, in order to realize profits forUSA, increase export and employment and achieve to rule the economy in the SouthChina Sea as well.The primary content of the fifth part is to conduct strategic assessment for ObamaAdministration’s geostrategy in the South China Sea, based on this, to put forward coping strategy of China. Referring to strategic assessment, the research suggests that,Obama’s geostrategy of South China Sea has accomplished anticipated effect as a wholefor the strategy has played a positive role to redeem strategic decline for USA. In termsof the overall effect, USA has achieved the strategic goals in enhancing force in regionalcooperation mechanisms and establishing affinity with allies, insuring its frontiermilitary presence and influence in security terms, and of course, playing positive role inrelieving economic predicament in America. Specifically, China has been put in astrategic dilemma significantly owing to Obama’s geostrategy of South China SeaItshould be noted that, though, the Obama Administration’s geostrategy of South ChinaSea hasn’t got rid of limit from China, ASEAN, other great powers outside the SouthChina Sea and impact of politics and economy from America. In the future, under theinfluence of the above causes, Obama Administration will continue to carry forward thestrategy, however, what the Chinese government needs to do is to put forward validstrategy in accordance with the impact that may be caused by Obama’s geostrategy andcreate long-lasting geostrategy which is convenient for China to bring its superiorityinto full play.The conclusion part is to summarize the central insights of the article and toprospect the Sino-USA relationship.