North Korea
South China Sea dispute
As Chinese influence has increased in East Asia relations with the US have become strained. In October 2015, US bombers flew close to a series of artificial islands which are being created by China in disputed areas in the South China Sea. However, US President Obama and Chinese President Xi did meet in Washington where Xi described US-China co-operation as a win-win situation.
Despite strain in their relationships, China, Japan and South Korea have taken part in annual tripartite talks and expanded trade agreements.
In 2014, bilateral relations between China and Vietnam reached an all time low with Vietnam accusing China of violating its international waters as China looks to expand its oil exploration in the energy-rich area.
ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is an intergovernmental organisation of ten Southeast Asian countries; Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
ASEAN member countries find themselves in a state of divergence regarding their relationships with China and the United States. The area requires investments, trade opportunities, and infrastructural advancement, which China has actively addressed, notably with its Belt and Road Initiative.
However, there is an unease among member nations about potentially falling into an economic reliance on China. A number of countries within the region are looking to the United States as a strategic measure to counterbalance China's escalating military influence. (Source: Council on Foreign Relations)
AUKUS
In response to the growing influence of China, in September 2021, the UK, US, and Australia have entered a new security pact named AUKUS. China was not mentioned in the press conference by name. China鈥檚 Washington embassy reacted urging the three nations to shake off their Cold-War mentality and ideological prejudice
. (Source: 大象传媒 News)
North Korea
China has an important relationship with North Korea. North Korea is a dictatorship and keen to develop nuclear power but is largely isolated from the rest of the world.
China is regarded as North Korea's closest ally and trading partner. The North Korean economy is almost entirely dependent on trade with China 鈥 over 80% of its trade is with China 鈥 and the two countries signed a long-standing military treaty (the Sino-North Korean Mutual Aid and Cooperation Friendship Treaty) in 1961.
Chinese diplomatic contacts have helped to influence the North Korean government to adopt a more moderate position over its nuclear program. Over recent years, in an effort to defuse international tension over North Korea's nuclear ambitions, China has imposed economic sanctions on its dependent neighbour in order to apply pressure.
Taiwan
Independent of China with its own constitution and leaders, Taiwan is and island around 100 miles off the south eastern coast of China, that also known as the Republic of China.
China regards Taiwan as a renegade province destined to eventually fall under Beijing鈥檚 jurisdiction. President Xi Jinping of China has emphasized the necessity of achieving 鈥渞eunification鈥 with Taiwan and has not ruled out the potential use of force to accomplish this goal.
China could attempt to bring about "reunification" by non-military means such as strengthening economic ties. But in any military confrontation, China's armed forces would dwarf those of Taiwan. (Source: 大象传媒 News)
The US is a strong supporter of Taiwanese independence but has been reluctant to publicly declare firm involvement of its military if China were to attack.
In 2021, US President Joe Biden admitted the US would defend Taiwan if China attacked. This was later explained by a White House spokesperson who pointed the US law which requires it to help Taiwan defend itself. During 2021, China seemed to intensify its pressure by dispatching military aircraft into Taiwan鈥檚 Air Defence Zone. This zone is an area declared by Taiwan itself, wherein foreign aircraft are detected, identified and managed to safeguard national security interests. (Source: 大象传媒 News)