1st Edition
Buffer Thinking in Chinese Foreign and Security Policy The Reasoning behind China's Policies toward North Korea, Taiwan, and Mongolia
List of Figures
List of Abbreviations
1. China’s Puzzling Behavioral Consistency
2. Buffer Thinking of China
3. The Case of Taiwan
4. The Case of North Korea
5. The Case of Mongolia
6. China’s Buffer Thinking: Its Meaning and Implications
Index
Biography
Yu-Hua Chen is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of International Liberal Arts at Akita International University, Japan.
‘This book is a timely examination into the role of buffers in Chinese strategic tradition. It is a brilliant study that shows us the ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind China’s self-conceptualization of its geopolitical safe space. Chen tells the story of how China gauges the strategically optimal extent of its geopolitical ambition historically. This is a must-read for anyone who is interested in China's geopolitical reach today -- and tomorrow. A marvelous contribution to the literature on Chinese foreign policy and strategic tradition.’
Wen-Ti Sung, Nonresident Fellow, The Atlantic Council – Global China Hub, Australia
‘Yu-Hua Chen’s “Buffer Thinking” makes an important contribution to our understanding of PRC foreign policy by analyzing the geopolitical vulnerability of China in three areas: Taiwan, North Korea, and Mongolia. He shows how China has historically treated these three areas as “buffer states,” to address the possibility of external security threats.’
Peter Van Ness, Australian National University, Australia
