China's strategic choices towards North Korea and Iran
[Thesis]
Kang-uk Jung
Zhao, Suisheng
University of Denver
2015
425
Committee members: Donnelly, Jack; Feste, Karen A.
Place of publication: United States, Ann Arbor; ISBN=978-1-339-17583-6
Ph.D.
Josef Korbel School of International Studies
University of Denver
2015
This study tests two hypotheses. First, China cooperates with the United States only when it is able to obtain material rewards. Second, without material incentives from the United States, China straddles between the United States on one hand and Iran and North Korea on the other. My findings show that neither Structural Realism, which holds anti-hegemonism alliance, nor Constructivism, which holds positive assimilation of the nuclear nonproliferation norm explains Chinese international behavior comprehensively. My balance of interest model explains Chinese foreign policy on the noncompliant states better. The cases cover the Sino-North Korean and Sino-Iranian diplomatic histories from 1990 to 2013 vis-à-vis the United States. The study is both a within-case comparison-that is, changes of China's stance across time-and a cross-case comparison in China's position regarding Iran and North Korea.
International Relations
Social sciences;Balance of interest;China;Foreign policy;Iran;North Korea;Strategy