Spring 2025

IMAS/IDAS Program, National Chengchi University

US-China-Taiwan and the Global System

Professor Tse-Kang Leng 冷則剛

Professor of Political Science

National Chengchi University

Research Fellow

Institute of Political Science, Academia Sinica

E-Mail:  tkleng@sinica.edu.tw

TEL: 2652-5317

Course Requirements: This is a seminar-based course. Students must participate actively in class discussions. Participants are required to finish the readings before the weekly class meeting starts.

Registered students must make at least two formal presentations in class:

1. Choose one or two topics from the weekly sessions. You will help identifying key arguments of the reading materials and provide additional information in your oral presentations .


2. Present your “ pioneer  paper proposal” in the last meetings of class.

Based on oral presentations, students will discuss and debate major viewpoints in class.

Instructor will lead the discussions, lecture supplemental topics, and raise further questions.

Grading:                                                               

Class participation and presentations:               65%

Pioneers proposal.:                                              35%

Course Schedule :

 Introduction and Organization

Background Review

Sharif As-Saber and Charmine Hartel, “Cocktail geopolitics and the changing nature of governance”, International Journal of Public Administration, 2023.

Manfred Elsig, “Reflections on Geopolitics”, 2023

David Criekemans, “Grounding world politics anew: reflections on the continued relevance of geopolitics to the study of today’s international relations”, July, 2023

The “China Threat” debate and Sino-American relations

Suisheng Zhao, The Dragon Roars Back, 2023., Chapter 4

Joseph Nye, “Will the liberal order survive? History of an idea”, Foreign Affairs, Jan/Feb 2017, P. 10-16

Bateman, Jon. 2022. U.S.-China Technological “Decoupling”: A Strategy and Policy Framework. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. P. 35-52

 https://carnegieendowment.org/files/Bateman_US-China_Decoupling_final.pdf

Continuity and change of Chinese foreign policy

Yan Xuetong, 2014. “From Keeping a Low Profile to Striving for Achievement,”

The Chinese Journal of International Politics, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 153-184.

Kastner, Scott L. , Margaret M. Pearson, and Chad Rector. 2020. “China and Global Governance: Opportunistic Multilateralism.” Global Policy, 11(1): 164-169.

Matt Ferchen & Mikael Mattlin, 2023. “Five Modes of China’s Economic Influence: Rethinking Chinese Economic Statecraft.” The Pacific Review, Vol. 36, No. 5.

US-China High-Tech Wars and Taiwan

Larry Diamond ed. Silicon Triangle ( Hoover Institution, 2023); Chapter 4, 5, 7.

Domestic sources of US-China Rivalry

Linda Weissa and Elizabeth Thurbonb， “Developmental State or Economic Statecraft? Where, Why and How the Difference Matters”， New Political Economy,  2021, VOL. 26, NO. 3, 472–489

Yu Keping, 2018. “Governance and Good Governance: A New Framework for Political Analysis.” Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences, Vol. 11, PP. 1-8.

Fewsmith, Joseph, 2021. “Balances, Norms and Institutions: Why Elite Politics in the CCP Have Not Institutionalized.” The China Quarterly, Vol. 248, pp. 265-282.

Challenges of Cross-Strait relations

Szu-yin Ho, “Cross Strait Relations,” Chapter 15, in Dynamics of Democracy in Taiwan: The Ma Ying-jeou Years. Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc. (August 17, 2020)

Dongtao Qi, Suixin Zhang & Shengqiao Lin, 2023. “Urban Chinese Support for Armed Unification with Taiwan: Social Status, National Pride, and Understanding of Taiwan.” Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 32, No. 143.

Thomas J. Christensen, M. Taylor Fravel, Bonnie S. Glaser, Andrew J. Nathan, Jessica Chen Weiss, “How to Avoid a War Over Taiwan: Threats, Assurances, and Effective Deterrence”, Foreign Affairs, October 13, 2022

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/how-avoid-war-over-taiwan#author-info

Video Comments and Discussion

midterm exam week

Major Power politics in the Arctic region: the US Perspective

“Defending America’s Northern Border and Its Arctic Approaches”, Brookings Institute, 2023.

“Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for the Congress,” January 18, 2024 ; Keep updating

https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R41153.pdf

Major Power politics in the Arctic region: other players

NBR Report, “Asian States’ Arctic approaches: Opportunities for engagement”, January, 2023.

https://www.nbr.org/publication/asian-states-arctic-approaches-opportunities-for-engagement/

Fuzuo Wu, 2023. “Shaping China’s Engagement with the Arctic: Nationalist Narratives and Geopolitical Reality.” Journal of Contemporary China, Vol. 32, No. 143.

Strategies of small states and middle powers

Ma X, Kang DC, 2023. “Why Vietnam is not Balancing China: Vietnamese Security Priorities and the Dynamics in Sino-Vietnam Relations.” Journal of East Asian Studies, Vol. 23, No. 3.

Ryu, Yongwook, 2023. “South Korea's Role Conceptions and the Liberal International Order.” International Affairs, Vol.99, No. 4, pp. 1439-1458.

Kuik Cheng-Chwee, 2020. “Hedging in Post-pandemic Asia: What , How , and Why,” The Asan Forum.

https://theasanforum.org/hedging-in-post-pandemic-asia-what-how-and-why/ .

Culture，Memories, History and International relations

Yuan-kang Wang, 2020. “The Durability of a Unipolar System: Lessons from

East Asian History,” Security Studies, Vol, 29, No. 5, pp. 832-863.

David C. Kang, 2010. “Hierarchy and Legitimacy in International Systems: The Tribute System in Early Modern East Asia,” Security Studies, Vol. 19, No. 4, pp. 591-622.

Nissim Otmazgin, 2021. “An "East Asian" Public Diplomacy? Lessons from Japan, South Korea, and China.” Asian Perspective, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 621-644.

flexible class

 group discussion section I

 group discussion section 2

conclusion

to be hired

Course Requirements: This is a seminar-based course. Students must participate actively in class discussions. Participants are required to finish the readings before the weekly class meeting starts.

Registered students must make at least two formal presentations in class:

1. Choose one or two topics from the weekly sessions. You will help identifying key arguments of the reading materials and provide additional information in your oral presentations .


2. Present your “ pioneer  paper proposal” in the last meetings of class.

Based on oral presentations, students will discuss and debate major viewpoints in class.

Instructor will lead the discussions, lecture supplemental topics, and raise further questions.

Grading:                                                               

Class participation and presentations:               65%

Pioneers proposal.:                                              35%

please refer to the syllabus for weekly readings