The Turn of the Tide:Explaining China’s Growing Assertiveness in the South China Sea

摘要

Before the late 2000s,China employed a diplomatic“next generation”approach to its territorial disputes in the South China Sea(SCS).Beginning in the late 2000s,however,China has assumed threatening attitudes,and taken a strong stand against other disputants.Why has China recently shown its assertiveness when dealing with the South China Sea issue?This study argues that two factors-China’s growing naval capabilities and the growing presence of China’s strategic rivals around the South China Sea-led China to adopt a more assertive policy regarding the South China Sea issue.