For most of the 20th century the United States has been a Pacific power along with Russia, China, and Japan. Terrible wars have been fought. In the midst are the secondary powers, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the rest of southeast Asia. This is a vast and complex region. This course is primarily a study of China and secondarily the United States and how it relates to China and the Pacific region.
Little attention is given to Japan and to Russia or Korea.
This course is a series of studies into particular subjects that all tie together. It includes a review of China's recent history to provide background for more specific studies. Discovering Beijing's short term and long term goals is no simple or easy matter. Not only is national interest involved, rooted in history, but also communist ideology, domestic politics, and leadership choices. As it looks at the region and the world, especially through Chinese eyes, the course tackles four areas of importance China's foreign policy goals, economic relationships with the overseas Chinese business community, issues of democracy and law in Hong Kong and China, and how China's military policy is a challenge to the United States.