THE MIDDLE KINGDOM AS DEPICTED IN THE US STRATEGIC DOCUMENTS IN 2010-2019

Abstract

The article’s goal is to summarize the perception of China in key US strategic documents in the period of 2010-2019. The rationale behind the selection of such a period was based on an assumption, that the 2012 Defense Strategic Guidance issued by the Secretary of Defense upon order from the President, marked and announced, what has been nick-named the „Pacific Pivot”. To get a better understanding of the dynamics of the perception the author suggests a one step backwards move to the 2010 National Security Strategy issued by President Obama on the verge of withdrawing large US contingents from Middle East and just after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. To meet the goal, author will follow the changes in China-oriented parts of the strategic documents issued by the US Presidents and the Secretaries of Defence until the recently announced NSS and National Defense Strategy.