ANALYZING CHINA (PRC) AND ISLAM AS POTENTIAL

THREATS TO EAST ASIAN SECURITY

SK/02/2007/GDK

DR. ZARINA @ ZAIRINA BINTI OTHMAN

ABTRACT

The literature on security studies, especially on East Asian Security, has continued to be
dominated by the Realist school of thought, which sees the People's Republic of China’s
rising economic power as a threat to the region’s peace and security. Nevertheless, China
claims that it intends to follow a peaceful approach in using its rising power. Meanwhile,
some scholars and government leaders, particularly in the US, have been focusing on
terrorism as the strongest potential threat to international security, and some Islamic-
dominated states have come to believe that it is Islam rather than terrorism that is being
perceived as a threat. In this article we explore the roles of both China and Islam, in the
context of East Asia's peace and security. In particular, we search for specific underlying
factors and objective criteria that will help us to understand the reasons why each may be
considered a threat. Finally, we will highlight the promise by Islamic civilizations of a
peaceful approach to international security, and compare that with the evidence that
China also may maintain a peaceful stance. Samuel Huntington's famous Clash of
Civilizations (1993), in which he foresees future conflicts revolving around different
types of civilization and culture, will be examined in the context of the security of East
Asia. In addition, a multidisciplinary, comparative case study approach will be used to
collect both secondary and primary data. Material from other Western and Asian
publications will be included, and primary data will be based on interviews with 1) a
sample of people selected randomly from citizens of China (PRC); 2) recognized experts
in the study of China, of Islam and Islamic cultures and International Relations. Face–to-
face interviews will be conducted whenever possible. By comparing the two entities,
Islam and China, it is hoped that the article will provide food for thought in the ongoing
debates regarding contemporary international relations, security and related issues.