Alliance Decision-Making in the South China Sea: Between Allied and Alone

Description

The combination of rising Chinese power and longstanding territorial disputes has drawn increased attention and threats to the Asia-Pacific region. Five smaller powers contest Beijing’s claims; Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Indonesia, with the United States viewed as the most likely counterbalance to coercive behavior towards them. However, only one of these five states - the Philippines -has maintained a guarantee of protection through alliance with the US. What factors have influenced state decisions to form security relationships with Washington, and what does the evolution of these factors portend for future security relationships in the South China Sea? Using research on U.S. policy preferences based on recently declassified material, this book produces conclusions previously inaccessible beyond classified forums. The author surveys recent alliance theory developments to examine relationships between claimant states and the US, explores historical bilateral relations and considers the future of regional security relationships. This book contributes to the fields of security studies, foreign policy and international relations and expands beyond traditional concepts of defense alliances to explore security cooperation along a spectrum from allied to aligned to non-aligned. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of figures Acknowledgements Prologue 1. Alliance Politics and the South China Sea What Are Alliances? Likelihood of Security Relationship Formation Notes Bibliography 2. Malaysia Cold War: “Confrontasi” and the Indonesian Threat Post-Cold War: Human Rights Primacy in US Foreign Policy Post-September 11th: US–Islamic Strain Factors Affecting the Malaysian–U.S. Relationship Prospects for Security Relations Notes Bibliography 3. The Philippines Cold War: People’s Power Revolution Post-Cold War: Basing Rights Post-September 11th: War on Terrorism Factors Affecting the Philippine–U.S. Relationship Prospects for Security Relations Notes Bibliography 4. Vietnam Cold War: Normalization Rebuff Post-Cold War: Normalization Post-September 11th: Road to Permanent Normal Trade Relations Factors Affecting the U.S.–Vietnamese Relationship Prospects for Security Relations Notes Bibliography 5. Brunei Cold War: Independence from Britain Post-Cold War: Push for Membership in International Organizations Post-September 11th: Muslim Identity and Post-September 11th Terrorism Factors Affecting the Bruneian–U.S. Relationship Prospects for Security Relations Notes Bibliography 6. Indonesia Cold War: Rise of Suharto and the East Timor Invasion Post-Cold War: 1999 East Timor Crisis Post-September 11th: Counter-Terrorism Factors Affecting the U.S.–Indonesian Relationship Prospects for Security Relations Notes Bibliography 7. Prospects for Security Relationships in the South China Sea Findings for Each State Factors that Mattered Most Prospects for Future Security Relationships Notes Bibliography Index