Worry for Asia is not a Chinese Monroe Doctrine

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http://www.straitstimes.com/news/opinion/more-opinion-stories/story/worry-asia-not-chinese-monroe-doctrine-20140708



Members of the Chinese PLA honour guard stand behind a string to ensure that they are in a straight line before a welcoming ceremony for Germany's Chancellor Merkel outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Worry for Asia is not a Chinese Monroe Doctrine
By Kai He And Huiyun Feng For The Straits Times
Published on Jul 8, 2014 1:04 PM

The Monroe Doctrine is gaining popularity in both scholarly and policy discourses on Asian security. Specifically, scholars and pundits are warning that China will adopt its own Monroe Doctrine to dominate Asia and "kick America out".

The Monroe Doctrine was first announced by US president James Monroe in 1823. It warned European powers not to interfere in the Americas, and respect the Western Hemisphere as the United States' sphere of interest.

In recent months, China appears to have been following a similar policy. It has simultaneously faced stand-offs in the East China Sea and South China Sea, engaged the US and Russia geopolitically, and showed a tough stand towards Hong Kong.

It seems that a new Cold War between China and the United States is looming in the Pacific region. However, the assertion of a Chinese version of the Monroe Doctrine is mistaken.