The following thesis outlines the Chinese government's push for new-energy vehicles within their auto industry. By giving a history of the Chinese automotive industry and the central planning devices used to push the industry forward, we should develop a more refined understanding as to the direction of China' auto industry in the future.

Thesis advisor: Robert S. Ross / This dissertation presents a structured and focused comparison of how Chinese leaders and academics have perceived the security cooperation of states on China’s periphery. This study examines three cases: the U.S.S.R.-Vietnam Alliance (1978-1989); the U.S.-Japan Alliance (1990-2016) and the U.S.-South Korea Alliance (1990-2016). They exemplify adversarial alliances in that they represent security cooperation that threatened or potentially threaten Chinese vital interests. Similarly, they all represent adversarial alliances of an asymmetric power relationship between a larger and smaller state. I gathered this data from Chinese journal articles and books related to the three cases, interviewed Chinese academics and think tank analysts, and compared the Chinese perceptions with non-Chinese primary and secondary sources. The research explores how well four concepts describe alliance behavior in the evidence. The first three concepts relate to how China views the alliances’ intentions, capabilities, and cohesion. The fourth concept relates to China’s self-perception as a rising state relative to the adversarial alliances. Knowledge of Chinese past and present perceptions of adversarial alliances should assist academics and policy makers in understanding the implications of security cooperation of states that are in close proximity to the Chinese mainland. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2016. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Political Science.

Despite Australia enjoying good relations with both the United States and China at the moment, the long-term prospects are uncertain due to US-China strategic rivalry. The aim of this thesis is to examine Australia’s ability to continue strong relations with both countries over the long-term. The thesis concludes that Australia may be able to maintain good relations with the US and China in the long run despite US-China strategic rivalry. The strategic competition only increases the prospect of conflict; it does not mean a US-China conflict is bound to happen. Although the risks of a US-China military confrontation over Taiwan are real, the chances are small due to America’s continued strategic presence in the region and its military preponderance. If a Sino-US conflict were to occur, Australia would most likely side with the US despite China being economically significant to Australia. The United States is also critically important to Australia’s economic interests and, ultimately, Australia’s national security depends on its alliance with the US. Survival is the foremost goal for a state in the anarchical international system and security interests outweigh economic interests in importance in a time of crisis.

Despite Australia enjoying good relations with both the United States and China at the moment, the long-term prospects are uncertain due to US-China strategic rivalry. The aim of this thesis is to examine Australia’s ability to continue strong relations with both countries over the long-term. The thesis concludes that Australia may be able to maintain good relations with the US and China in the long run despite US-China strategic rivalry. The strategic competition only increases the prospect of conflict; it does not mean a US-China conflict is bound to happen. Although the risks of a US-China military confrontation over Taiwan are real, the chances are small due to America’s continued strategic presence in the region and its military preponderance. If a Sino-US conflict were to occur, Australia would most likely side with the US despite China being economically significant to Australia. The United States is also critically important to Australia’s economic interests and, ultimately, Australia’s national security depends on its alliance with the US. Survival is the foremost goal for a state in the anarchical international system and security interests outweigh economic interests in importance in a time of crisis.

O eixo central deste trabalho é a análise dos impactos que a ascensão da China poderá trazer ao Leste Asiático. Para cumprir esta tarefa, divide-se o desenvolvimento do trabalho em três capítulos. O primeiro investiga o fenômeno chamado de ascensão da China, que consiste no incremento das capacidades desse país e da consequente elevação de seu status relativo em âmbito regional (e global). Considera-se que este processo deve ser tomado em perspectiva histórica a partir do modo como o país e sua sociedade tradicionalmente se relacionaram com o exterior. Argumenta-se que a ascensão da China provoca uma alteração fundamental na polaridade e na polarização regionais, com implicações em âmbito global. Desta feita, o segundo capítulo consiste em examinar o contexto regional a partir de análises das políticas externa e de segurança dos principais atores regionais para o Leste Asiático. Isso é feito através de dois pontos de vista: a atuação regional e as relações com a China, incluindo a reação à ascensão da China. Constata-se que diante da rivalidade estratégica entre a potência hegemônica e a potência ascendente — respectivamente, Estados Unidos e China — os demais atores regionais buscam manter sua autonomia e margem de manobra entre as duas potências. O terceiro e último capítulo tem por propósito elaborar uma série de possíveis perspectivas para os desdobramentos regionais, baseado nas implicações para a polaridade, para a polarização e para as possibilidades de conflito e concertação regionais. Para tanto, utiliza-se os indicadores levantados nos capítulos anteriores e nas análises e proposições já feitas sobre o assunto. Considera-se três possíveis perspectivas: uma hegemonia chinesa sem ocorrência de guerra central; o acirramento das tensões entre Pequim e Washington, com possibilidade de guerra central; e concertação e criação de mecanismos de governança entre os atores regionais, podendo esta concertação ser anárquica — sem líderes aparentes — ou hierárquica — condomínio de potências —. Considera-se que a primeira e a terceira perspectivas apresentam a possibilidade do surgimento uma nova ordem regional sem guerra central, enquanto o segundo considera que não haverá novo tipo de governança no contexto da rivalidade estratégica entre China e Estados Unidos. Por fim, vislumbram-se algumas possibilidades para o Brasil e futuras agendas de pesquisa. / The central axis of this work is the analysis of the impacts of China's rise may have on East Asia. In order to accomplish this, research is divided in three chapters. The first explores the China's rise as a phenomenon which consists of the increase of Chinese capabilities and the consequent elevation of its relative status on a regional (and global) level. This process must be taken into account within a historical perspective, considering how the country and its society traditionally relate with the exterior. The proposed argument is that China's rise generates a fundamental change in the regional polarity and polarization, with global and regional-level implications. Thus, the second chapter consists of a study of the regional context based on an analysis of the foreign and defense policies of the main regional actors in East Asia. Two points are considered for this: their regional actions and their relations with China, more specifically, how they deal with the Chinese change of status. Accordingly, these regional actors seek to maintain their autonomy and leeway vis-à-vis the strategic rivalry between the hegemon and the rising power: the US and China respectively. The third and last chapter elaborates a series of possible regional scenarios, based on their implications to polarity, polarization, and the likelihood of conflict or regional concertation. To achieve this, this assessment uses indicators presented in the previous chapters and from analyses and propositions by other authors. Three main scenarios are considered: a Chinese hegemony without a central war, the intensification of tensions between Beijing and Washington (with a likely central war), and the creation of governance and concertation mechanisms between the regional actors. These mechanisms might be anarchical — without apparent leaders — or hierarchical. Further examination shows that the first and third scenarios present the possibility of the emergence of a new regional order without a central war, while the second scenario deems that there will not be a new governance type within the strategic rivalry context. Lastly, this work offers some of the opportunities this phenomenon may bring to Brazil, as well as suggests a further research agenda.

O eixo central deste trabalho é a análise dos impactos que a ascensão da China poderá trazer ao Leste Asiático. Para cumprir esta tarefa, divide-se o desenvolvimento do trabalho em três capítulos. O primeiro investiga o fenômeno chamado de ascensão da China, que consiste no incremento das capacidades desse país e da consequente elevação de seu status relativo em âmbito regional (e global). Considera-se que este processo deve ser tomado em perspectiva histórica a partir do modo como o país e sua sociedade tradicionalmente se relacionaram com o exterior. Argumenta-se que a ascensão da China provoca uma alteração fundamental na polaridade e na polarização regionais, com implicações em âmbito global. Desta feita, o segundo capítulo consiste em examinar o contexto regional a partir de análises das políticas externa e de segurança dos principais atores regionais para o Leste Asiático. Isso é feito através de dois pontos de vista: a atuação regional e as relações com a China, incluindo a reação à ascensão da China. Constata-se que diante da rivalidade estratégica entre a potência hegemônica e a potência ascendente — respectivamente, Estados Unidos e China — os demais atores regionais buscam manter sua autonomia e margem de manobra entre as duas potências. O terceiro e último capítulo tem por propósito elaborar uma série de possíveis perspectivas para os desdobramentos regionais, baseado nas implicações para a polaridade, para a polarização e para as possibilidades de conflito e concertação regionais. Para tanto, utiliza-se os indicadores levantados nos capítulos anteriores e nas análises e proposições já feitas sobre o assunto. Considera-se três possíveis perspectivas: uma hegemonia chinesa sem ocorrência de guerra central; o acirramento das tensões entre Pequim e Washington, com possibilidade de guerra central; e concertação e criação de mecanismos de governança entre os atores regionais, podendo esta concertação ser anárquica — sem líderes aparentes — ou hierárquica — condomínio de potências —. Considera-se que a primeira e a terceira perspectivas apresentam a possibilidade do surgimento uma nova ordem regional sem guerra central, enquanto o segundo considera que não haverá novo tipo de governança no contexto da rivalidade estratégica entre China e Estados Unidos. Por fim, vislumbram-se algumas possibilidades para o Brasil e futuras agendas de pesquisa. / The central axis of this work is the analysis of the impacts of China's rise may have on East Asia. In order to accomplish this, research is divided in three chapters. The first explores the China's rise as a phenomenon which consists of the increase of Chinese capabilities and the consequent elevation of its relative status on a regional (and global) level. This process must be taken into account within a historical perspective, considering how the country and its society traditionally relate with the exterior. The proposed argument is that China's rise generates a fundamental change in the regional polarity and polarization, with global and regional-level implications. Thus, the second chapter consists of a study of the regional context based on an analysis of the foreign and defense policies of the main regional actors in East Asia. Two points are considered for this: their regional actions and their relations with China, more specifically, how they deal with the Chinese change of status. Accordingly, these regional actors seek to maintain their autonomy and leeway vis-à-vis the strategic rivalry between the hegemon and the rising power: the US and China respectively. The third and last chapter elaborates a series of possible regional scenarios, based on their implications to polarity, polarization, and the likelihood of conflict or regional concertation. To achieve this, this assessment uses indicators presented in the previous chapters and from analyses and propositions by other authors. Three main scenarios are considered: a Chinese hegemony without a central war, the intensification of tensions between Beijing and Washington (with a likely central war), and the creation of governance and concertation mechanisms between the regional actors. These mechanisms might be anarchical — without apparent leaders — or hierarchical. Further examination shows that the first and third scenarios present the possibility of the emergence of a new regional order without a central war, while the second scenario deems that there will not be a new governance type within the strategic rivalry context. Lastly, this work offers some of the opportunities this phenomenon may bring to Brazil, as well as suggests a further research agenda.

O eixo central deste trabalho é a análise dos impactos que a ascensão da China poderá trazer ao Leste Asiático. Para cumprir esta tarefa, divide-se o desenvolvimento do trabalho em três capítulos. O primeiro investiga o fenômeno chamado de ascensão da China, que consiste no incremento das capacidades desse país e da consequente elevação de seu status relativo em âmbito regional (e global). Considera-se que este processo deve ser tomado em perspectiva histórica a partir do modo como o país e sua sociedade tradicionalmente se relacionaram com o exterior. Argumenta-se que a ascensão da China provoca uma alteração fundamental na polaridade e na polarização regionais, com implicações em âmbito global. Desta feita, o segundo capítulo consiste em examinar o contexto regional a partir de análises das políticas externa e de segurança dos principais atores regionais para o Leste Asiático. Isso é feito através de dois pontos de vista: a atuação regional e as relações com a China, incluindo a reação à ascensão da China. Constata-se que diante da rivalidade estratégica entre a potência hegemônica e a potência ascendente — respectivamente, Estados Unidos e China — os demais atores regionais buscam manter sua autonomia e margem de manobra entre as duas potências. O terceiro e último capítulo tem por propósito elaborar uma série de possíveis perspectivas para os desdobramentos regionais, baseado nas implicações para a polaridade, para a polarização e para as possibilidades de conflito e concertação regionais. Para tanto, utiliza-se os indicadores levantados nos capítulos anteriores e nas análises e proposições já feitas sobre o assunto. Considera-se três possíveis perspectivas: uma hegemonia chinesa sem ocorrência de guerra central; o acirramento das tensões entre Pequim e Washington, com possibilidade de guerra central; e concertação e criação de mecanismos de governança entre os atores regionais, podendo esta concertação ser anárquica — sem líderes aparentes — ou hierárquica — condomínio de potências —. Considera-se que a primeira e a terceira perspectivas apresentam a possibilidade do surgimento uma nova ordem regional sem guerra central, enquanto o segundo considera que não haverá novo tipo de governança no contexto da rivalidade estratégica entre China e Estados Unidos. Por fim, vislumbram-se algumas possibilidades para o Brasil e futuras agendas de pesquisa. / The central axis of this work is the analysis of the impacts of China's rise may have on East Asia. In order to accomplish this, research is divided in three chapters. The first explores the China's rise as a phenomenon which consists of the increase of Chinese capabilities and the consequent elevation of its relative status on a regional (and global) level. This process must be taken into account within a historical perspective, considering how the country and its society traditionally relate with the exterior. The proposed argument is that China's rise generates a fundamental change in the regional polarity and polarization, with global and regional-level implications. Thus, the second chapter consists of a study of the regional context based on an analysis of the foreign and defense policies of the main regional actors in East Asia. Two points are considered for this: their regional actions and their relations with China, more specifically, how they deal with the Chinese change of status. Accordingly, these regional actors seek to maintain their autonomy and leeway vis-à-vis the strategic rivalry between the hegemon and the rising power: the US and China respectively. The third and last chapter elaborates a series of possible regional scenarios, based on their implications to polarity, polarization, and the likelihood of conflict or regional concertation. To achieve this, this assessment uses indicators presented in the previous chapters and from analyses and propositions by other authors. Three main scenarios are considered: a Chinese hegemony without a central war, the intensification of tensions between Beijing and Washington (with a likely central war), and the creation of governance and concertation mechanisms between the regional actors. These mechanisms might be anarchical — without apparent leaders — or hierarchical. Further examination shows that the first and third scenarios present the possibility of the emergence of a new regional order without a central war, while the second scenario deems that there will not be a new governance type within the strategic rivalry context. Lastly, this work offers some of the opportunities this phenomenon may bring to Brazil, as well as suggests a further research agenda.

This diploma thesis deals with the rise of China in the context of its behavior in the South China Sea over the past decade. The significant economic growth of the People's Republic of China over the last few decades is expected to affect not only the regional balance of powers, but also its position within the international system. There is a wide-ranging debate in academia about how China will grow and how it will affect the international community. As a reaction, in order to explain its growth, China has introduced the concept of "peaceful development", according to which its growth should be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat to the international community. An offensive realism approach was chosen for this work and the ideas of its main advocate John Mearsheimer will be applied to the specific behavior of China in the region. The role of the United States, which influences China's behavior, will also be discussed. The diploma thesis will further deal with the increased Chinese assertiveness in the area of South China Sea and the means it uses in it to enforce its claims. The basic aim of this work is to underscore the contrast between the declared official policy of China and its actual behavior.