Brookings Analyst: China Justifiably Views Obama's Pivot To Asia As A Threat

June 24, 2012 • 10:42AM

Yun Sun, a Chinese scholar now at Brookings Institution in Washington, issued a warning that the Obama "pivot" to Asia is seen in China as an effort to confront and contain China, and will thus undermine U.S.-China cooperation in general.

Writing on the U.S. and South Korean policy towards North Korea, Yun Sun writes: "China is increasingly anxious and concerned about U.S. strategic intentions toward China and the China-related utility of its military alliances in East Asia. For most Chinese, Americans and South Koreans cite the North Korea threat to justify the existence and strengthening of the military alliance.... The announcement of the U.S. pivot to Asia has intensified these suspicions and concerns..., its perceived meddling in South China Sea disputes and increasing deployments in the Asia Pacific, are seen as specific steps to counter China's rise. The U.S.-R.O.K. alliance is an intrinsic element of this strategy (with or without the North Korea problem).

"Hence, China's logic regarding North Korea policy is clear: China will not help the U.S. and R.O.K. solve the North Korea problem or speed up a China-unfriendly resolution since China is next on the list."