"Rozman shows how East Asia's international relations can be best understood through the lens of triangles, analyzing relations between the key nations through a series of trilateral relationships. He argues that triangles present a convincing answer to the question of whether we are entering a new era of bipolarity like the Cold War, or an age of multipolarity. Triangulation emerged as a dynamic in East Asia in the aftermath of the Cold War, but has been accelerated in the wake of the Xi and Trump administrations. Even as Sino-US competition and confrontation deepens, triangles have a substantial presence. East Asian triangles share an unusual mixture of three distinct elements: deep-seated security distrust; extraordinary economic interdependence; and a combustible composition of historical resentments and civilizational confidence. The combination of the three makes the case for triangularity more compelling, Rozman argues. The legacy of communism, the pursuit of reunification on the Korean Peninsula, and moves to expand beyond the US-Japan alliance have all driven the way triangles have evolved. Rozman evaluates each key triangle of states in turn and assesses how the relationship impacts the region more widely. An essential framework for understanding the current state and trajectory of East Asian International relations, for students and policy-makers"--.

• Cover
• Half Title
• Series Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Chapter 1: Introduction: How Triangularity Changed the New Face of East Asia
  • Chronology of Post-Cold War Triangular Relations in East Asia
  • East Asian Triangles
  • Analysis of Triangularity
  • Policy Implications
  • Note on Omissions
• Part I: The Legacy of the Cold War
  • Chapter 2: China, Russia, the United States: The New Face of the Grand Strategic Triangle
    • Tests of Triangularity over Three Decades
    • Strategic Threat
    • Economic Vulnerability
    • National Identity Incompatibility
    • Dynamics of the China-Russia-US Strategic Triangle
  • Chapter 3: China, Russia, North Korea: The Shadow of the Socialist Bloc
    • Tests of Triangularity over Three Decades
    • Strategic Threat
    • Economic Vulnerability
    • National Identity Incompatibility
    • Dynamics of the Socialist Legacy Triangle
  • Chapter 4: China, North Korea, the United States: The Shadow of the Cold War
    • Tests of Triangularity over Three Decades
    • Strategic Threat
    • Economic Vulnerability
    • National Identity Incompatibility
    • Dynamics of the Shadow of the Cold War Triangle
• Part II: South Korea as the Pivot of Transformation
  • Chapter 5: South Korea, China, the United States: The Pivot of Regional Transformation
    • Tests of Triangularity over Three Decades
    • Strategic Threat
    • Economic Vulnerability
    • National Identity Incompatibility
    • Dynamics of the South Korea-China-US Triangle
  • Chapter 6: China, South Korea, Japan: The Renewed Core Regional Triangle
    • Tests of Triangularity over Three Decades
    • Strategic Threat
    • Economic Vulnerability
    • National Identity Incompatibility
    • Dynamics of the South Korea-China-Japan Triangle
  • Chapter 7: South Korea, Japan, the United States: The New Face of the Alliance Triangle
    • Tests of Triangularity over Three Decades
    • Security Threat
    • Economic Vulnerability
    • National Identity Incompatibility
    • Dynamics of the South Korea-US-Japan Triangle
• Part III: New Tests for the Japan-US Alliance
  • Chapter 8: Japan, the United States, China: East Asia’s Core Great Power Triangle
    • Tests of Triangularity over Three Decades
    • Strategic Threat
    • Economic Vulnerability
    • National Identity Incompatibility
    • Dynamics of the Japan-US-South Korea East Asian Triangle
  • Chapter 9: Japan, the United States, Russia: The Test for Boundary Crossing
    • Tests of Triangularity over Three Decades
    • Strategic Threat
    • Economic Vulnerability
    • National Identity Incompatibility
    • Dynamics of the Japan-US-Russia Triangular Quest for Boundary Crossing
  • Chapter 10: Japan, the United States, Australia, India: The Quad—An Exception
    • Tests of Triangularity over Three Decades
    • Strategic Threat
    • Economic Vulnerability
    • National Identity Incompatibility
    • Dynamics of the Japan, US, Australia, India Quest for the Quad
  • Chapter 11: Conclusion: How Triangularity Adjusts to Bipolarity
    • Tests of Triangularity over Three Decades
    • Strategic Threat
    • Economic Vulnerability
    • National Identity Incompatibility
    • Looking Ahead
• Index