The Chinese sphere of influence has become such a force in East Asia that it can no longer be ignored by the United States. While the People’s Republic of China has not traditionally used its military force against other nations, it uses its vast economy to pressure neighboring nations to follow their own agendas. During the Cold War, the United States’ policy of containment actively forced America to deploy its forces in the fight against communism. Examples of this include the Korean and Vietnam wars.
In those conflicts, the People’s Republic of China played an important role in assisting the communist forces against the democratic and capitalistic regimes. Today, even though the Cold War is over, Chinese influence in these regions still remains and poses a threat to liberal governments. Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea are flourishing democracies with powerful economies under the threat of communist confrontation. How does the Chinese sphere of influence affect the United States’ foreign policies regarding the protection of its political ideals in East Asia?
Long Live McCarthyism
Chris Myers and Nora Spellissy
