U.S. post cold-war grand strategy in the Asia-pacific region: A policy of containment or a policy of hedging toward mainland China?

Abstract

The positive change of China`s economic, political and foreign policy is shaping the country at the status of a regional power. Indeed China`s fast economic growth and its military power without forgetting its real involvement in international institutions are concrete signs of its influence in Asia and on the international arena as well. Seen as a potential candidate and alternative power to assume the role of "peer competitor", China is considered as the counter-balancing power able to threaten and even block American hegemony. Hence the rivalry between the two international powers, constraining de facto the United States of America (USA) to revise its Grand Strategy in order to manage its relations vis-à-vis China`s rise since China`s growing economic strength, tied to its high demography and military modernization, would give it the capacity to project both power and influence at both regional and international level. To have an in-depth understanding of the US grand strategy in the Asia Pacific region, this paper seeks to analyze whether the USA is pursuing a policy of containment or a hedging strategy towards China (?) Furthermore, in order to give a full picture and a more comprehensible approach of the Sino-US strategic partnership, the present paper will also try to dig into China`s strategic responses to US grand strategy in the Asia Pacific region, response that is akin to a strategic balancing against US hegemony.