China and the Indo-Pacific: Maneuvers and Manifestations

Description

The book emanates from the geopolitical and geo-economic churning and transformations set in motion by the unprecedented economic rise of China resulting in its expanding political influence across the region and the world. In both the economic and the security realms, the United States and China alike are increasingly seen contesting in shaping the Indo-Pacific regional order to their own advantage.  This book unfolds the contours and dimensions of China’s responses to various multilateral initiatives of the US and its friends and allies like Japan, Australia, and India and, to some extent, even ASEAN. While China’s medium-term strategy envisages a non-hostile external environment in order to focus on domestic priorities; reducing dependence of littoral nations of the Indo-Pacific region on America while increasing their engagement and dependence on China. China's expanding reach and influence overseas has resulted in US-led initiatives being China-focused inviting a response from China where adverse reactions have become increasingly palpable. Preface Acknowledgements Praise for China and the Indo-Pacific Contents Editors and Contributors About the Editors Contributors Abbreviations List of Tables 1 China’s Engagement and the Indo-Pacific Introduction The China-Led Transition of Asia–Pacific China’s Engagement by Other Stakeholders In This Volume… References 2 Decoding ‘Sovereign Strategic Networks’ in the Indo-Pacific: Contesting China’s ‘Ascendant-Rise’ Introduction Strategic Competition: Cooperative Vistas to Convergent Axes? The Economic Prosperity Network: A ‘Non-China’ Economic Security Compact Challenging Predatory Strategic-Capacitation: The Blue Dot Network Democratizing Commoditized Economy: Supply Chains Resilience Initiative Sanctity of ‘Data-Tech’: ‘G7’, ‘D10’ or ‘T10’? ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’: Mainstreaming Sustainable Development Conclusion References 3 US–China Strategic Competition: Through the Matrix of Complex Interdependence Introduction Asymmetries and Interdependence US Presence in the Indo-Pacific Shifting Complex Interdependence Axis Dissecting Its Theoretical Underpinning Concluding Remarks References 4 Sino-Japanese Relations: Drivers and Obstacles in the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision Introduction China’s ‘New Era’ Under Xi Jinping The Precarious Seikei Bunri Formula Critical Junctures in Sino-Japanese Relations Characteristics and Approaches of the FOIP China Factor in Japan’s FOIP Vision Conclusion References 5 ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific: Motivations, Opportunities, and Challenges Introduction One Construct, Multiple Interpretations Indonesia’s Contribution to the AOIP The Geopolitics of the AOIP China and ASEAN Centrality ASEAN Unity and Its China Challenge Conclusion References 6 China in EU’s Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Introduction Why EU Needs to Join the Indo-Pacific? Untangling EU’s China Vision EU vs. Its Member States Complexities of the EU–China Relationship Can Indo-Pacific Solve China–EU Problems? China in the Making of the Indo-Pacific EU’s “Middle-Ground” Approach Tailpiece: What About Post-Brexit UK? Conclusion References 7 Evolving Indo-Pacific Multilateralism: China Factor in Australia’s Perspectives Australia as a Middle Power Multilateralism in Australia's Defence and Foreign Policy China Factor in Australia’s Multilateralism Multilateralism in Middle Powers’ Defence Strategies Multilateralism and Middle Powers’ Economic Strategies China and the Evolving Regional Architecture Conclusion References 8 The Community of Shared Futures: China’s Counter to Indo-Pacific Narratives Introduction Constructed and Contested Ideas in-the-Making Ideas of Indo-Pacific: Contestations and Convergences China’s Asia–Pacific Policy Factors and Forces Guiding China’s CSF CSF and Changing of the Normative Dynamics Motivations For China’s CSF From Harmonious World to CSF From Defensive to Proactive Intellectual Origins of CSF CSF in China’s Vision of the Indo-Pacific Chinese Critique of the Indo-Pacific Conclusion References 9 China’s Regional Engagement and Quad: Mapping Conceptual Dynamics Introduction Mapping the Conceptual Dynamics Maritime Silk Road vis-à-vis the Quad Mapping China’s Supply Chain Networks China’s Expanding Maritime Footprint China’s Vaccine Diplomacy Conclusion References 10 China’s Engagement with the Pacific Islands Introduction China’s Engagement with Pacific Islands Competition Between China and Taiwan China and Solomon Islands Conclusion References 11 China’s Maneuvers in South Asia Introduction South Asia: A Region of Significance for China SAARC—Limited Relevance and Outreach China’s All-Pervasive Engagement in South Asia China’s Influence: A Bilateral Perspective India and China: Unresolved Borders China: Afghanistan and Pakistan as Special Friends Bhutan and Nepal: Small Nations Between Two Large Neighbors Bangladesh and China: A Strengthening Relationship Sino-Sri Lanka Relations: An Impacted Island Maldives and China: Influence in the Indian Ocean Conclusion References Index