China's Gambit: The Calculus of Coercion

China's Gambit explores when, why, and how China attempts to coerce states over perceived threats to its national security, offering a new and generalizable cost-balancing theory to explain states' coercion decisions. It demonstrates that China does not coerce frequently and uses military coercion less when it becomes stronger, resorting primarily to non-militarized tools.

Format: Hardback
Length: 225 pages
Publication date: 14 December 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

China's Gambit delves into the intricate dynamics of China's coercive strategies, exploring the timing, motivations, and methods employed by the country to exert influence over perceived threats to its national security. Since the 1990s, China has resorted to coercion in territorial disputes and issues related to Taiwan and Tibet, showcasing a selective approach in its application of force. This comprehensive book presents a novel and broadly applicable cost-balancing theory to explain states' coercion decisions. It demonstrates that China employs coercion less frequently as its power strengthens, preferring non-militarized tools over military coercion. Drawing from a wealth of empirical evidence, including primary Chinese documents and in-depth interviews with Chinese and foreign officials, the book sheds light on how contemporary rising powers translate their power into influence. Moreover, it offers a fresh framework for understanding states' coercion decisions in the context of economic interdependence, particularly the impact of global economic interdependence on the foreign security policies of rising powers. By examining China's coercive actions and offering a comprehensive analysis, this book provides valuable insights into the complex interplay of power, influence, and security in the contemporary global landscape.

ISBN-13: 9781009423786