Ms Jiye Kim1
1University of Queensland; University of Sydney, Australia
Biography:
Jiye Kim is a Lecturer at the University of Queensland (Australia) and a researcher affiliated with the University of Sydney (Australia). Previously, she was a Lecturer at Macquarie University (Australia), an Associate Professor at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (Japan), and a Lecturer at the University of Waikato (New Zealand). Her research focuses on international security using multi-country and multi-lingual perspectives (English, Korean, and Mandarin Chinese). She employs an interdisciplinary approach linking international business and security domains and industry engagement to advance our understanding of imminent planetary challenges.
Abstract:
This paper reviews alliance theories in International Relations literature and suggests the implications of understanding the regional power’s security order building in the case of China. China’s official stance on historical security alliances has sparked a polarized debate: on one end, some argue that China seeks to use alliance-driven security orders to shift the global balance of power; on the other, others contend that China aims to establish an order based on security partnerships, avoiding binding commitments and obligations. This article examines geopolitical determinants and key terms of alliance theories, including the Balance of Threat Theory, and explores Chinese concepts related to the existing theories. We suggest that Chinese narratives of its regional security order building practices highlight its effort to minimize the likelihood of its neighbours perceiving its actions as offensively motivated. By exploring the Chinese concepts, this article uncovers how China builds the regional security order considering geopolitical circumstances and theoretical implications to the alliance literature.