Hamish Galbraith, Year 12
Evaluate the ef fe ctive us e of p ower by t wo or more state s in the pursuit of their national intere st A border of 1,420km separates the two powers of China and North Korea, but, in reality, these states are worlds apart, largely due to the effectiveness of their use of power. China has been far more effective in their use of economic power to achieve their national interest priorities. In recent years though, North Korea has been increasingly effective in their use of diplomatic power compared to the US, as shown through their improved relationship with that nation. Despite the growing power of North Korea, China is still dominant as they can utilise their power more effectively, especially their military power, to influence the actions of other global actors to achieve their national interest priorities. China’s superior production capability relative to North Korea grants them significantly more economic power to influence the actions of another state through finance and trade. China currently engages in trade and investment agreements with over 100 states globally and maintains bilateral free trade agreements with 14 states, whilst North
Korea has no free trade agreements and trades almost exclusively with China. China currently exports $2.41trillion USD of goods and services and has a trade surplus of $870billion USD. Comparatively, North Korea exports a mere $1.74billion USD and maintains a trade deficit of $1.98billion USD. China’s massive trade volume and the dependence of many states, including North Korea, on trade with China, grants them huge amounts of economic power which they can use to influence the actions of states. They can use this power to achieve their national interest priorities. China effectively utilised their economic power through the enforcement of United Nations sanctions against North Korea, achieving their national interest priorities of improved international standing and national security. In 2017, China restricted all imports of coal from North Korea, as well as ordering all North Korean businesses operating in China to cease operations within 120 days, crippling the North Korean economy. Despite China’s economic prosperity being impacted by decreased exports, they increased their national security and ensured their continued sovereignty as North Korea ceased their missile tests. North Korea’s lack of trade agreements gives them limited economic power and hence limits their ability to achieve their national interest priorities. North Korea’s lack of trading partners and ability to influence their actions meant that they were unable to persuade trading partners, mainly China, to continue to trade with them despite the sanctions. This decreased their economic prosperity and regional relationships, showing that North Korea was ineffective in their use of economic power in their pursuit of their national interests. In recent years, however, North Korea has become increasingly effective, when compared to China, in their use of diplomatic power in their relationship with the United States. Since the beginning of the Trump presidency in 2017, the China-USA relationship has continued to
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