Foreign Policy and the Tiananmen Square Incident

The video explores the tension between idealism and realism in foreign policy, using the US response to China's Tiananmen Square protests as a case study. It discusses China's political climate, the student protests, and the subsequent crackdown. The US, led by President George H.W. Bush, faced internal and external pressures to respond, balancing idealistic human rights concerns with realist strategic interests. Despite diplomatic efforts, tensions persisted, highlighting the complexities of influencing another country's policies.

What are the two main approaches in foreign policy discussed in the video?

• Isolationism and Expansionism

• Democracy and Authoritarianism

• Idealism and Realism

• Capitalism and Socialism

Who was the leader of China during the late 1970s reforms?

• Mao Zedong

• Xi Jinping

• Deng Xiaoping

• Jiang Zemin

What was the main demand of the student protesters in Tiananmen Square?

• Increased military spending

• Immediate independence from China

• More political reforms and less corruption

• More economic reforms

How did the Chinese government initially respond to the Tiananmen Square protests?

• By publicly criticizing the students but allowing protests to continue

• By immediately deploying the military

• By arresting all protest leaders

• By shutting down all media coverage

What was one of the actions taken by the U.S. in response to the Tiananmen Square massacre?

• Imposing a complete trade embargo

• Withdrawing all American businesses from China

• Suspending weapons contracts with China

• Declaring war on China

Why did President Bush resist calls for tougher actions against China?

• He was unaware of the severity of the situation

• He wanted to maintain a strong alliance with the Soviet Union

• He believed it would harm U.S. economic interests

• He prioritized realism over idealism in foreign policy

What was a significant factor in Bush's decision-making regarding China?

• The desire to expand U.S. territory

• The economic benefits of trade with China

• The influence of European allies

• The need to maintain a strong military presence in Asia

How did Congress influence U.S. foreign policy after the Tiananmen Square incident?

• By cutting all diplomatic ties with China

• By increasing military aid to China

• By demanding more idealistic actions

• By supporting Bush's realist approach

What was one of the challenges faced by the U.S. in influencing China's internal policies?

• The U.S.'s lack of economic leverage

• China's strong alliance with the Soviet Union

• China's view of the activists as a threat to stability

• The absence of international support

What was the outcome of Bush's diplomatic efforts with China?

• A public apology from China

• A private agreement to de-escalate tensions

• Increased sanctions against China

• Complete resolution of tensions