China's changing approaches towards the Korean Peninsula in the late 20th and early 21st century
Author
Nielsen, Ulrik Boesen
Term
4. term
Publication year
2020
Abstract
This thesis examines how and why China’s approach to the Korean Peninsula has shifted from the late twentieth to the early twenty-first century. Building on China’s historical alliance with North Korea and its markedly improved political, economic, and societal ties with South Korea—as well as China’s support for UN sanctions following North Korean nuclear tests—the study asks: Why has China’s attitude changed? The analysis integrates three perspectives: audience cost theory (domestic drivers and leadership credibility), regional security complex theory (interlocking security dynamics in Northeast Asia), and power transition theory (shifts in the international distribution of power). Each level is examined with relevant theory and data to capture the interaction of domestic, regional, and systemic factors. The thesis finds that all three frameworks help explain the change, though audience cost and power transition theories have limits in fully accounting for Chinese behavior. The results indicate that China has adopted a tougher yet moderate stance toward North Korea to promote regional peace and stability consistent with a good-neighbor policy, while it supports deepening relations with South Korea as part of efforts to expand its international influence. Overall, the shift is interpreted as managing external perceptions while pursuing greater regional and global influence.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan og hvorfor Kinas tilgang til den koreanske halvø har ændret sig fra slutningen af det 20. til begyndelsen af det 21. århundrede. Med udgangspunkt i Kinas historiske alliance med Nordkorea og de markant forbedrede politiske, økonomiske og samfundsmæssige relationer til Sydkorea – samt Kinas støtte til FN-sanktioner efter nordkoreanske atomprøver – stiller specialet spørgsmålet: Hvorfor har Kinas holdning ændret sig? Analysen kombinerer tre perspektiver: publikumsomkostninger (domestiske drivkræfter og ledelsens troværdighed), regionalt sikkerhedskompleks (Nordasiens indbyrdes sikkerhedsdynamikker) og magtovergang (ændringer i international magtbalance). Hvert niveau undersøges med relevant teori og data for at belyse samspillet mellem indre, regionale og systemiske faktorer. Specialet finder, at alle tre teorier bidrager til forklaringen, men at publikumsomkostnings- og magtovergangsteori har begrænsninger i at indfange kinesisk adfærd fuldt ud. Resultaterne peger på, at Kina indtager en strammere, men moderat linje over for Nordkorea for at fremme regional fred og stabilitet i tråd med en godnabopolitik, mens det over for Sydkorea understøtter de udbyggede forbindelser og anvender dem til at øge sin internationale indflydelse. Overordnet tolkes kursændringen som et forsøg på at styre omdømme og legitimitet udadtil, samtidig med at Kina søger større gennemslag regionalt og globalt.
[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]