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36 China Int'l Stud. 85 (2012)
New Characteristics of U.S. Hedging Strategy toward China

handle is hein.journals/chintersd36 and id is 87 raw text is: New Characteristics of U.S. Hedging Strategy toward China Yu Xintian I. New Phase of U.S. Hedging Strategy toward China: Interdependence with Institutional Restraint The theory of hedging originates from the realist school of international relations. The term hedging derives from economic studies, where it means to reduce the risk of losing by supporting more than one side. The original of the word hedge is a row of bushes or small trees planted close together, and an obstacle, both of which lead to the word's extended meanings to obstruct and surround. Only after taking into account the various meanings of hedging can we have a better understanding of what it means to hedge in international relations: by hedging ones bets, one tries to achieve the purpose of containing and obstructing the opponent. According to Nick Bisley, hedging means that when a country is facing security threats, it remains open to strategic options; it controls risk when a given incident occurs and refrains from irritating major powers unless its national interests and sovereignty are at stake. A hedging policy reconciles superficially conflicting strategies with a view to safeguarding national security. Yu Xintian is Senor Research Fellow and Director of Academic Conuittee, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies. CHINA INTERNATIONAL STUDIES - September/October 2012 85