| ID | 163755 |
| Title Proper | Theory and Practice of War Termination |
| Other Title Information | Assessing Patterns in China's Historical Behavior |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Mastro, Oriana Skylar |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | What factors determine how China attempts to terminate armed conflict? This article derives from the war termination literature three factors that impact the ability of disputants to resolve conflicts: approach to wartime diplomacy, views on escalation, and receptiveness to mediation. I then evaluate China’s attempts to bring conflict to a close according to these three factors in the Korean War, Sino-Indian War, and Sino-Vietnamese War. I argue that China tends to entertain talks only with weaker opponents, rely on heavy escalation to bring about peace, and leverage outside parties less as empowered mediators and more as an additional source of pressure on its enemies. A subsequent analysis of authoritative Chinese strategic writings reveal that these patterns have been imbued in contemporary thought and, therefore, are likely to persist in future flashpoints. My findings add a new dimension to the war termination literature and have policy implications for regional peace and stability. |
| `In' analytical Note | International Studies Review Vol. 20, No.4; Dec 2018: p.661–684 |
| Journal Source | International Studies Review Vol: 20 No 4 |
| Key Words | Military Strategy ; China ; War termination |