China Power and the National Interest Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key national interests, types of power, and foreign policy instruments regarding China's regional actions and strategies as presented in the SAC-Ready Study Guide.

Security

A national interest focused on protecting a state's people, territory, and resources.

Economic prosperity

Ensuring a strong economy and trade network to support growth and stability.

Regional relationships

Maintaining positive, bilateral ties with neighbouring states.

Regional standing

Building a good reputation and broader influence or image across the region.

Military Power

The use or threat of armed forces to exert influence over others, such as the naval 'Cabbage Strategy' in the South China Sea.

Economic Power

The ability of a state to generate wealth via tax, production, and trade, enabling it to attract trade partners, give aid, and fund its military.

Political Power

The ability of a state to exercise power domestically through the laws and policies it subjects its citizens to, such as the 2017 Anti-Extremism Law in Xinjiang.

Diplomatic Power

The ability to influence other states through dialogue, negotiation, alliances, and formal relationships, often exercised through the UN Security Council.

Cultural Power

The promotion of a desirable, transportable culture or values to achieve ends that might not be reachable through military or political means, such as 'Panda diplomacy'.

Diplomacy (Foreign Policy Instrument)

The use of dialogue, forums, and negotiation used to further or safeguard national interests, such as the One China Policy.

Trade (Foreign Policy Instrument)

The manipulation of the exchange of goods, services, labour, and capital to influence another actor's actions, such as tariffs used as political leverage.

Aid (Foreign Policy Instrument)

The provision of assistance—predominantly monetary loans and state-sponsored investment—intended to influence recipients' decisions and actions.

One China Policy

China's diplomatic enforcement of the PRC as the sole legitimate government, discouraging states from formal ties with Taiwan to safeguard territorial security.

Three Evils

The framing used by Beijing to justify actions in Xinjiang as tackling extremism, terrorism, and separatism.

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

A major initiative involving ~150 states presented as a 'community of common destiny' but often criticized as 'debt and noose' diplomacy.

Debt-trap diplomacy

A criticism of BRI lending where recipient's debt levels, like Laos at 108% of GDP by 2024, create extreme dependency risk.

Political stability

The state of governments or the international system maintaining control, authority, and functional relationships without major disruption.

Political change

Significant shifts in leadership, systems, alliances, or power structures within the global arena.

Define

The command term meaning to state the meaning of a concept precisely.

Explain

The command term meaning to state and justify a concept with a mechanism of 'how' or 'why'.

Evaluate

The command term meaning to weigh positives and negatives and reach a judgement.

Cabbage Strategy

A tactic involving a continued naval presence and confronting foreign vessels to protect territorial integrity in the South China Sea.