China’s South China Sea policy

Abstract

This chapter seeks to provide additional insights into the causes and nature of China's recent actions in the South China Sea. It examines China's evolving approaches to the South China Sea dispute, focusing on the causes behind China's recent assertiveness. The chapter discusses the ambiguous nature of China's claims to the South China Sea and the evolving Chinese perspectives of the legality of the U-shaped line that is central to China's claims. It discusses the policy dilemma faced by Beijing in bolstering China's claims in the South China Sea and its renewed charm offensive in 2013 to maintain a positive relationship with Southeast Asian countries. China's balancing act has perhaps been most clearly manifested in its dealing with ASEAN over the South China Sea dispute. In China's external relations, ASEAN has occupied a particularly important place. The chapter concludes with some observations of the implications of China's evolving approaches for the future of the South China Sea dispute.