The United States, Israel, and the Search for International Order: Socializing States by Cameron G. Thies

Author:Cameron G. Thies [Thies, Cameron G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Political Science, International Relations, General, World, History & Theory, Diplomacy
ISBN: 9781136675478
Google: jOKW7bHnr3cC
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2013-05-29T17:27:53+00:00

Figure 4.1 The Socialization Game for the Balancer and Regional Protector Roles in Asia

It is important to note that US policy regarding Chinese territorial integrity and political independence remained steadfast through successive administrations. When Sun Yat-sen assumed power after the Chinese Revolution of 1911, the United States under Wilson was the first to officially recognize his government, thus enacting its role as great power in determining system membership. In 1915, after Japan made its notorious “Twenty-one Demands” which would have essentially reduced China to a Japanese protectorate, Wilson informed Japan that the United States would not recognize any territorial changes made in China as the result of the demands.

As a newly emerged great power, Japan was attempting to achieve the role of regional protector for China. This was the first major challenge to the United States in its role as regional protector for China. Wilson's policy of nonrecognition, in combination with British opposition and naval power, compelled Japan to withdraw it demands in China (Crabb 1982: 75–76; Neu 1975: 85–88). Thus, although the regional protector role was initially challenged by Japan, it was supported by Britain, and ultimately Japan was forced to withdraw its claim to the role. This is a situation in which Japan as a great power attempted to achieve a role against other great powers' wishes, thus prompting Britain and the United States to balance against it to deny the role.

After Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 to set up the puppet state of Manchukuo, and after the failure of the League of Nations to respond to the invasion, Secretary of State Stimson proclaimed a policy of nonrecognition of Japan's territorial aggrandizement in China. The Stimson Doctrine accorded no legal recognition to the Japanese-created Manchukuo and affirmed the US commitment to the Open Door policy (Crabb 1982: 78–80).

In China, such verbal pronouncements were interpreted as the failure of the United States to properly enact its role as regional protector in the face of Japanese ongoing aggression (Hse 1975: 609). Japan's actions were a direct challenge to the US role of regional protector, which were met with words from the United States but not deeds. This was probably the result of conviction in the State Department that Japanese hegemony was inevitable in the region, and also of apprehension in the military about a contest between the Japanese and American navies (Crabb 1982: 84). In fact, Japan was launching its bid for the role of regional leader during this time period, having recently emerged as a great power itself.

Japan was able to force its role as regional protector and regional leader upon the states in the region, and upon the United States, which lacked the capabilities and will to enforce its claim to the regional protector role for Asia. It was not until the declaration of war with Japan in 1941 that the United States would attempt to reclaim and force its role of regional protector on the Japanese. The United States' social identity is affected by the regional protector

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