Rise of China and its behaviours in the South China Sea: an analysis of defensive realism perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.lassij/6.1.18Keywords:
defensive realism, defence strategy, maritime power, national strength, national security, maritime dispute, territorial disputes, revisionist state, regional securityAbstract
With the continuous improvement of China's comprehensive national strength, international observers could find that China has become more assertive in dealing with its territorial disputes with its neighbours. The debate about whether China is a revisionist state in the balance of power in its regional affairs is a hot topic and the discussion about her disputes in the South China Sea (SCS) is a subset of this important topic. For Beijing's apex, the significance of the SCS does not need more elaboration because it concerns a series of Chinese interests, especially her national security. Based on the precondition about Chinese security, the article analyses China's behaviours in the SCS to prove that Beijing has not turned aggressive even though it has some so-called assertiveness in its recent actions. The article's purpose is to use defensive realism as an analysis framework to help people think about Beijing's shifting behaviours in territorial disputes, especially when power competition is one factor forming the situation. In investigating the specific cases, the study proves that China's activities in the SCS in recent years are based on self-defence after strength enhancement rather than the beginning of the aggression, especially regarding its regional security and territorial disputes.
References
Alenezi, D. A. (2020). U.S. rebalance strategy to Asia and U.S.-China rivalry in South China Sea from the perspective of the offensive realism. Review of Economics and Political Science, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1108/REPS-10-2019-0132
Bai, T. (2021). Evolution and development of security policy discourse in the South China Sea. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2021(02), 53-63.
Barry, T. (2002). The U.S. power complex: What’s new. Special Report, Foreign Policy in Focus, 1-11. https://www.igadi.gal/arquivo/pdf/te_se07/te19_7_005tom_barry_srpower_us.pdf
Blazevic, J. J. (2012). Navigating the security dilemma: China, Vietnam, and the South China Sea. Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 31(4), 79-108. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/186810341203100404
Burgess, J. P. (2003). The politics of the South China Sea: Territoriality and International Law. Security Dialogue, 34(1), 7–10. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/09670106030341002?journalCode=sdib
Chen, X. D., & Wang, C. M. (2019). Strategic choice of neighbouring states to cope with China's rise: an explanation based on balancing capacity and balancing will. Journal of Contemporary Asia-Pacific Studies, 2019(01), 56-87. https://caod.oriprobe.com/articles/55935759/Strategic_Choice_of_Neighboring_States_in_Respondi.htm
Christensen, T. J. (2002). The contemporary security dilemma: Deterring a Taiwan conflict. Washington Quarterly, 25(4), 7–21. https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/olj/twq/fall2002/twq_fall2002c.pdf
Cordesman, A. H. (2014). Chinese strategy and military power in 2014: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, and US Perspectives. Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
Day Day News. (2020, December 22). US media: There are three reasons for the escalation of Sino-US confrontation or war in the South China Sea after Biden took office. https://daydaynews.cc/en/military/958474.html
Ding, S. Q., & Wang, X. Y. (2021). The rise of the Chinese Navy and its impact on the East Asia security order). World Regional Study, 30(04), 744-756.
Gilpin, R. (2001). Global political economy: Understanding the international economic order. Princeton University.
Glaser, B. S. (2012). Armed clash in the South China Sea. Council on Foreign Relations.
Global Firepower. (2021, March 3). 2021 China military strength. Global Firepower. https://www.globalfirepower.com/country-military-strength-detail.php?country_id=china
Guo, Q. (2017, May 4). Baozhang guojia anquan yao qianghua dixian siwei (Strengthen the bottom-line thinking to protect national security). People. http://theory.people.com.cn/n1/2017/0504/c40531-29252805.html
Jervis, R. (1999). Realism, neoliberalism, and cooperation. China Security, 5(2), 16-21. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/447615/summary
Joe, R. (2019, February 15). Predicting the Chinese Navy of 2030. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2019/02/predicting-the-chinese-navy-of-2030/
Jyalita, V. H. (2021). Defensive realism’s perspective on rising China’s behavior as a status quo state. Journal Sentris, 2(1), 73-86. https://doi.org/10.26593/sentris.v2i1.4621.73-86
Khatoon, A., Rahim, N., & Ali, B. (2018). A Historical Perspective of China’s Peaceful Policies and its Rise as World Economic Power. Liberal Arts and Social Sciences International Journal (LASSIJ), 2(1), 65-74. https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.lassij/2.1.8
Korab-Karpowicz, W. J. (2018). Political realism in international relations. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford University.
Lebow, R. N., & Valentino, B. (2009). Lost in transition: A critical analysis of power transition theory. International Relations, 23(3), 389–410. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047117809340481
Liu, T. X., & Chen, L. (2011). Analysis of defensive realism and offensive realism. Journal of Hubei University: Philosophy and Social Science, 38(4), 77-81.
Luo, X. (2018). The South China Sea and China’s Core Interests: Debate, review, Transend. Journal of Contemporary Asia-Pacific Studies, 18(1), 122-155.
Mearsheimer, J. J. (2001). The tragedy of great power politics. Norton & Company.
Menla-Ali, F., & Dimitraki, O. (2014). Military spending and economic growth in China: a regime-switching analysis. Applied Economics, 46(28), 3408-3420. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2014.929626
Morgenthau, H. (1960). Politics among nations: The struggle for power and peace (3rd ed.) Knopf.
Nathan, A. J., & Scobell, A. (2014). China’s search for security. Columbia University.
Oliveira, A. G. (2021). From panda to dragon: An analysis of China’s maritime actions and reactions in the East China Sea and their implications since 2012. Contexto Internacional (Journal of global connections), 43(1), 147-171. https://www.scielo.br/j/cint/a/mD9wg3cGh66wHt8zDgybSCL/?lang=en&format=html
Parameswaran, P. (2019, July). Managing the rise of China’s security partnerships in Southeast Asia. Wilson Centre. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/managing-the-rise-chinas-security-partnerships-southeast-asia
Payne, F. A. (1977). The strategic nuclear balance: A new measure. Survival, 19(3), 107–110. https://doi.org/10.1080/00396337708441677
Ronald, O, R. (2021). China naval modernization: implications for U.S. Navy capabilities: background and Issues for Congress (RL33153). Congressional Research Service. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=RL33153
Ross, R. S., & Zhu, F. (2008). China’s ascent: power, security, and the future of international politics (1st ed.). Cornell University.
Schweller, R. L. (1996). Neorealism's status?quo bias: what security dilemma? Security Studies, 5(3), 90–121. https://doi.org/10.1080/09636419608429277
Sherazi, T. Z., Khan, A., & Khan, H. U. (2020). Great Water Wall in South China Sea: Maritime Designs of China under Mahan’s Theory of Sea Power. Liberal Arts and Social Sciences International Journal (LASSIJ), 4(2), 278–293. https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.lassij/4.2.22
Shi, C. L., & Shi, K. C. (2014). Malacca security and Chinese strategic countermeasures. The New Orient, 2014(2), 6-11.
Shifrinson, J. (2020). The rise of China, balance of power theory and US national security: Reasons for optimism? Journal of Strategic Studies, 43(2), 175–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402390.2018.1558056
Strangio, S. (2022, January 28). Philippines’ Marcos to pursue bilateral deal with Beijing over South China Sea. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2022/01/philippines-marcos-to-pursue-bilateral-deal-with-beijing-over-south-china-sea/
Stewart, R. K. (2018). Strategic Puzzle in the South China Sea: Perception, Power, and Money. Chinese Plans for Hegemony? International Political Economy Theses, 21. https://soundideas.pugetsound.edu/ipe_theses/21
Taliaferro, J. W. (2001). Security seeking under anarchy: Defensive realism revisited. International Security, 25(3), 128–161. https://doi.org/10.1162/016228800560543
Teixeira, V. G. (2018). United States’ policy strategy in South China Sea. Scholar Journal of Applied Sciences and Research, 01(6), 24-32.
Usman, S. M., & Khalid, Y. (2021). Japan’s priorities in Taiwan: Its impacts on Japanese relations with America and China. Liberal Arts and Social Sciences International Journal (LASSIJ), 5(2), 222–235. https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.lassij/5.2.15
Walt, S. (1987). The origins of alliances. Cornell University.
Waltz, K. N. (1979). Theory of international politics. Addison-Wesley Pub.
Wang, J. S. (2011). Chinese international orientation and strategic thought of “Keep a low profile and get something done). International Studies, 2011(2), 4-9.
Wang, J. G., & Zhang, L. H. (2021). The new trend of upgrading of QUAD. Contemporary International Relations, 2021(5), 32-40.
Wang, Z. Y. (2021). Politics and the promotion of China's rising status. Foreign Affairs Review, 38(1), 47-69.
Wu, X. N., & You, J. (2020). The military drivers of China’s belt and road endeavour: Expanding the global reach from land mess to the maritime domains. China Review, 20(4), 223-244. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26959859
You, J. (2007). Dealing with the Malacca dilemma: China’s effort to protect its energy. supply. Strategic Analysis, 31(3), 467–489. https://doi.org/10.1080/09700160701415743
You, J. (2012). The Chinese navy, its regional power and global reach. Strategic Analysis, 36(3), 477–488. https://doi.org/10.1080/09700161.2012.670443
You, J. (2013). The PLA and diplomacy: Unravelling myths about the military role in foreign policy making. Journal of Contemporary China, 23(2), 236–254. https://doi.org/10.1080/10670564.2013.832526
You, J. (2016). The Sino-US ‘Cat and Mouse’ game concerning freedom of navigation and flights: An analysis of Chinese perspectives. Journal of Strategic Studies, 39(5), 637–661. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402390.2016.1238359
You, J. (2017). Xi Jinping and PLA centrality in Beijing's South China Sea dispute management. China: An International Journal, 15(2), 1-21.
Zhang, B. H. (2014). Realism theory of international relations and American Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy. Journal of International Relations, 2014(02), 11-26.
Zhang, D. W. (2013). China's security strategy under the sea power dispute: a realistic foreign policy choice. Journal of International Relations, 2013(4), 81-92.
Zhang, H. (2014, November 3). Party commands gun: Xi. Global Times. https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/889686.shtml
Zhang, Y. L. (2021). Comprehensive upgrading three main warships. Defence Science & Technology Industry, 2021(5), 24-26.
Zhao, S. (2015). China’s power from a Chinese perspective (I): A developing country versus a Great Power. Palgrave Macmillan.
Zheng, B. J. (2005). China's peaceful rise: Speeches of Zheng Bijian 1997-2005. Brookings Institution Press.
Zhou, F. Y. (2016). Between assertiveness and self-restraint: Understanding China's South China Sea policy. International Affairs, 92(4), 869–890. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2346.12657
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Sheng Zhang
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Please click here for details about the LASSIJ's Licensing and Copyright policies.
