U. S. Policy Toward China: An Introduction to the Role of Interest Groups

Robert G. Sutter

doi:10.5771/9781461666752

Summary

Increased fluidity and pluralism in U.S. policy toward China in the postDCold War period have led to growing non-governmental influence as both the administration and Congress have become the target of intense lobbying by organized groups concerned with human rights, trade opportunities, relations with Taiwan, and other hotly debated issues. This balanced study examines the central role of these organizations, focusing especially on two key cases of policy reversal: President Clinton's 1994 decision to delink human rights concerns from trade access and his 1995 decision to allow Taiwan's president to visit the United States, albeit in a private capacity. The recent movement toward a more consistent and coherent administration policy on China remains tentative and has been under mounting attack, especially in the wake of Asian campaign contributions. Although recognizing that U.S. policymakers must consider a wider range of interests than was the case during the Cold War, Sutter argues that following the prevailing consensus among organized interests may lead to bad policy. Instead, he contends that U.S. foreign policy must strike a balance between satisfying domestic concerns while buttressing interests abroad.

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Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/1998
Copyright Year: 1998
ISBN-Print: 978-0-8476-8724-4
ISBN-Online: 978-1-4616-6675-2
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham
Language: English
Pages: 171
Product Type: Monograph

1. Table of Contents No access
1. Implications for Future U.S.-China Relations No access
1. Post-Cold War Debate in U.S. Foreign Policy No access
2. Three Approaches to U.S.-China Policy No access
1. Bush's View of U.S. Policy toward China, 1989 No access
2. Consideration of MFN for China, 1990 No access
3. Broadening, Deepening Policy Debate, 1991-1992 No access
4. Moderating Debate Prior to the 1991 Crisis No access
5. Incremental Change amid Mixed Signals No access
6. Crisis over MFN, 1991 No access
7. The Bush Administration Toughens No access
1. Overview No access
2. The Tug-of-War over MFN during the Clinton Administration, 1993-1994 No access
1. The Lee Teng-hui Visit and U.S.-PRC-Taiwan Relations No access
2. The Tug-of-War over Taiwan: Influential Organized Interests No access
1. The Rise of China No access
2. The Washington Summit, October 1997-Expectations and Outcome No access
3. Outcome and Outlook No access
4. Implications for the Future No access
Appendix No access Pages 99 - 149
Chronology No access Pages 150 - 165
Selected Readings No access Pages 166 - 168
Index No access Pages 169 - 170
About the Author No access Pages 171 - 171