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

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.