Strategic Adjustment and the Rise of China: Power and Politics in East Asia

Jul 8, 2026

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Strategic Adjustment and the Rise of China: Power and Politics in East Asia is a 2017 Cornell University Press volume in the Cornell Studies in Security Affairs series, edited by Robert S. Ross and Øystein Tunsjø. The book assembles contributions examining how East Asian security transforms under China’s growing power, addressing domestic politics and nationalism, evolving U.S.-China strategy, and the effects of economic power after the 2008 financial crisis. It further studies Japan and South Korea’s responses, regional nationalism and alliance dynamics, and major power relations, including South China Sea disputes and third-party coercion in Northeast Asia.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages317

Reading Time13 h 19 min

Introduction

Domestic Politics and Nationalism in East Asian Security

U.S.-China Relations: From Unipolar Hedging toward Bipolar Balancing

Perception, Misperception, and Sensitivity: Chinese Economic Power and Preferences after the 2008 Financial Crisis

Two Asias? China’s Rise, Dual Structure, and the Alliance System in East Asia

Japan, South Korea, and the Rise of China

Protecting the Status Quo: Japan’s Response to the Rise of China

Popular Nationalism and Economic Interests in China’s Japan Policy

China’s Rise and Security Dynamics on the Korean Peninsula

Great Power Relations and Regional Conflict

Threading the Needle: The South China Sea Disputes and U.S.-China Relations

The United States and China in Northeast Asia: Third-Party Coercion and Alliance Relations

Conclusion: East Asia at the Center: Power Shifts and Theory

Strategic Adjustment and the Rise of China a volume in the series Cornell Studies in Security Affairs edited by Robert J. Art, Robert Jervis, and Stephen M. Walt A list of titles in this series [is available at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu](is available at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu). Strategic Adjustment and the Rise of China Power and Politics in East Asia Edited by Robert S . Ross and Øystein Tun sjø Cornell University Press Ithaca and London Copyright © 2017 by Cornell University Cornell University Press gratefully acknowledges receipt of a subvention from the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies which aided in the publication of this book. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850. First published 2017 by Cornell University Press Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Ross, Robert S., 1954– editor. | Tunsjø, Øystein, editor. Title: Strategic adjustment and the rise of China: power and politics in East Asia/edited by Robert S. Ross and Øystein Tunsjø . Other titles: Cornell studies in security affairs. Description: Ithaca; London: Cornell University Press, 2017. | Series: Cornell studies in security affairs | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2016057396 (print) | LCCN 2016059916 (ebook) | ISBN 9781501709180 (cloth: alk. paper) | ISBN 9781501709197 (pbk.: alk. paper) | ISBN 9781501712760 (ret) | ISBN 9781501712777 (pdf) Subjects: LCSH: China—Foreign relations—21st century. | East Asia—Foreign relations—21st century. Classification: LCC DS779.47 .S79 2017 (print) | LCC DS779.47 (ebook) | DDC 355/.033051—dc23 LC record available at [https://lccn.loc.gov/2016057396](https://lccn.loc.gov/2016057396) Cornell University Press strives to use environmentally responsible suppliers and materials to the fullest extent possible in the publishing of its books. Such materials include vegetable-based, low-VOC inksand acid-free papers that are recycled, totally chlorine-free, or partly composed of nonwood fibers. For further information, visit our [website at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu](website at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu). Contents List of Contributors vii Acknowledgments ix Introduction 1 robert s. ross and øystein tunsjø PART I. POWER AND POLITICS IN THE EAST ASIAN TRANSITION 1. Domestic Politics and Nationalism in East Asian Security 15 randall l. schweller 2. U.S.-China Relations: From Unipolar Hedging toward Bipolar Balancing 41 øystein tunsjø 3. Perception, Misperception, and Sensitivity: Chinese Economic Power and Preferences after the 2008 Financial Crisis 69 daniel w. drezner 4. Two Asias? China’s Rise, Dual Structure, and the Alliance System in East Asia 100 wang dong Contents PART II. JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, AND THE RISE OF CHINA: NATIONAL SECURITY AND NATIONALISM 5. Protecting the Status Quo: Japan’s Response to the Rise of China 137 ian bowers and bjørn elias mikalsen grønning 6. Popular Nationalism and Economic Interests in China’s Japan Policy 169 James Reilly 7. China’s Rise and Security Dynamics on the Korean Peninsula 196 chung-in moon PART III. GREAT POWER RELATIONS AND REGIONAL CONFLICT 8. Threading the Needle: The South China Sea Disputes and U.S.-China Relations 233 m. taylor fravel 9. The United States and China in Northeast Asia: Third-Party Coercion and Alliance Relations 261 robert s. ross Conclusion: East Asia at the Center: Power Shifts and Theory 285 øystein tunsjø Index 299 Contributors Ian Bowers is an assistant professor at the Norwegian Defence University College and the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies. Daniel W. Drezner is a pro

FAQs

What is the central theme of the book?

The volume examines how strategic adjustment and China’s rise shape power and politics across East Asia, especially in security, alliances, and regional conflict.

Which major topics are covered in the first part of the book?

It focuses on East Asian domestic politics and nationalism, U.S.-China relations, how perceptions and preferences respond to China’s economic power after 2008, and how China’s rise interacts with dual structures and alliance systems.

How does the book address Japan, South Korea, and the China rise?

It analyzes Japan’s response to China’s rise, the link between popular nationalism and economic interests in China’s Japan policy, and security dynamics on the Korean Peninsula.

What regional flashpoints and great-power interactions are discussed in the later chapters?

The later section covers South China Sea disputes in the context of U.S.-China relations and Northeast Asia dynamics involving third-party coercion and alliance relations.

Jul 8, 2026

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