Abstract:

The rise of China has shaken the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region, leading to the emergence of new alternative approaches to the ‘unipolar’ international system in which the United States (US) is the hegemonic power. The theory of ‘multipolar’ systems has been one of these alternative approaches. China's economic success has resulted in wide acknowledgement of China positiononig itself to succeed the US as a global hegemon, putting the US- China rivalry at the centre stage of international arena. The rivalry between the US and China is not only limited to the economic sphere, but it has also spread into the military and cultural spheres. Treating international migration as one of the factors affecting the US-China rivalry,this study intends to examine the role of international migration on the power balances in Asia-Pacific. Focusing on the effects of international migration especially on the fields of culture and economy, the study elaborates further on the spheres of influence of the US and China in the Asia-Pacific region. To this objective, the study explores the role of migration on China-Myanmar relations, the US-Philippines relations, and the sphere of influence of Japan, a predominant regional power. The analytical findings of the study aims to contribute to the scholarly debates investigating the extent of influence of international migration on power competition within the international system.

Keywords: