US-China policy: A function of strategy or process

This dissertation utilizes three decision making models, the rational actor model, the bureaucratic politics model, and the interbranch politics model, to examine U.S.-China policy from 1979 to 1985 with the purpose of evaluating the importance of institutions (the presidency, Congress), the policy process by which these institutions relate to one another, and the role of individual officials in the process. Four cases are selected to serve as the subjects of analysis: The Taiwan Relations Act, 1979; U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, 1980-1982; the U.S.-China trade agreement, 1979; and U.S. technology transfer to China, 1980-1985.; This study found that the question of whether U.S.-China policy has been a function of strategy or governmental processes represents a false dichotomy. There is a necessary linkage between strategic interests and governmental processes in which strategic and other political interests are transformed into foreign policies. In this respect, the bureaucratic politics and the interbranch politics models are found most helpful in explaining U.S.-China policies since normalization. In particular, these models explain why some policies reflected the convergence of strategic interests and cooperation and others did not.; Several conclusions are drawn from this study. First, U.S.-China policy objectives became diversified with the expansion of Sino-American relations since normalization. As a result, U.S.-China policy making was pluralized and decentralized. Second, U.S.-China relations were institutionalized as the relationship expanded to different areas of interests. The institutionalization had an effect on China policy making in that it involved various interests of governmental agencies with various policy goals. Bureaucratic players exerted greater influence in China policy making. Third, the rapid expansion of U.S.-China ties led to an increasing role played by Congress in providing a legal framework for China policy and sharing China policy making power with the executive. In this regard, the interbranch policy process is the key to understanding and predicting U.S.-China policy.