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International Area Studies Review

ISSN : 2233-8659 (Print)

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  • KCI(Korea Citation Index)
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International Area Studies Review

ISSN : 2233-8659 (Print)

Journal Archive

International Area Studies Review - Vol. 27 , No. 3

[ Article ]
International Area Studies Review - Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 197-218
Abbreviation: IASR
ISSN: 2233-8659 (Print)
Print publication date 01 Sep 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.69473/iasr.2024.27.3.197

U.S. Technological Decoupling from China: A Neoclassical Realist Explanation
Yue Wu* ; Jae-seung Lee ; Kevin Tangonan
School of Digital Economics and Management, Software Engineering Institute of Guangzhou
Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, Pukyong National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
Hawaii Yuhak Education Consultancy, LLC

Correspondence to : *Email: ktangonan@pusan.ac.kr


Abstract

The ongoing competition between the United States and China has upgraded to technological decoupling (TD). This paper analyzes the evolution of the U.S. TD policy toward China since the Bush administration and the reasons for the policy changes. With neoclassical realism, this paper defines the distribution of technological power as the independent variable and the U.S. threat perception of China as the intervening variable. It finds that although China’s technological strength has gradually increased, imposing systemic pressure on the United States, the U.S. TD policy depends on the extent of the U.S. threat perception of China. As the United States defines China from a collaborator to a competitor and a challenger, its TD policy has gradually evolved to work with its allies and partners to contain China multilaterally, aiming to reshape the world’s technology supply chain. Based on these findings, the United States is expected to adopt a more stringent TD policy against China, but the policy’s effectiveness remains uncertain.


Keywords: Technological decoupling, U.S.-China competition, Technological power, Threat perception, Neoclassical realism

AI Acknowledgment

Generative AI or AI-assisted technologies were not used in any way to prepare, write, or complete essential authoring tasks in this manuscript.

Conflict of Interests

The author(s) declare that there is no conflict of interest. (If there are conflicts of interest, list them in detail, specifying the nature of the conflict and the involved parties.)

Funding

The author(s) declare that there is no funding.


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