Economic Interdependence, Political Cooperation, and International Conflict: The Case of China's and Japan's Relationship with the U.S.

How does economic interdependence influence the occurrence and resolution of conflict between countries? This paper explores the impact of economic interdependence on conflict occurrence and resolution among major powers of varying strengths, selecting the cases of China, the U.S., and Japan. Despite close economic ties, political differences persist, leading to three hypotheses. Firstly, economic interdependence encourages political cooperation and reduces conflict, demonstrated through cases of the U.S.-Japan and Sino-U.S. relationships. Secondly, while not eliminating conflict entirely, economic interdependence discourages military interventions, as evident in trade disputes involving Sino-U.S. and U.S.-Japan relations. Lastly, the form of government moderates cooperation and conflict, explaining why economic interdependence fails to promote political harmony between China and the U.S., in contrast to Japan. This study hopes to contribute to existing literature by providing nuanced insights into the complex interplay of economic interdependence, political dynamics, and conflict resolution.