South China Sea Dispute Case Analysis

CHINA’S AGGRESSIVE FOREIGN POLICY ON

SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE

1.1 INTRODUCTION

On November 2012, Xi Jinping was appointed as secretary of the Congress Party. This appointment has witnessed an important milestone in the history of China and it is a starting point to a change in foreign policy and international relations of China. This appointment also shows the starting point of a new era in China's domestic politics. Approaching 4 years China under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the world witnessed a sudden change involving foreign policy and international relations of China. China is seen as a "lion awakening", under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. Xi Jinping has proved that China can emerge as a great power and is able

Many things have changed from the previous state discourse and practice within a relatively short time-span. This has put China itself and neighbouring countries off guard, confused, and sometimes miscalculated. The primary questions are, (1) what is the factor lead to the changes? (2) what are the challenges to Xi Jinping administration? The purpose of this paper is to examine the reasons behind the aggressiveness of China’s foreign policy due to South China Sea dispute.

1.2 ANALYZING CHINA’S FOREIGN POLICY

China’s global expansion did not occur by itself. Instead, it was a direct result of policies launched by the Communist Party’s at the well known Third Plenary session of the Eleventh Central Committee in 1978 aimed to engage in ﴾economic﴿ reform and opening up of the country. Here are the key objectives of China’s foreign policy:

1.2.1 To maintain the dominance of the communist party. Policies, both domestic and foreign, are derived from this goal. To maintain this dominance, the government ensures that the welfare of the population continues to raise, a step that has been incredibly well managed for the past thirty years.

1.2.2 To defend sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as seeking to unify the motherland ﴾referencing to

China's responsible for setting strategic goals, the basic guidelines and the overall direction of China's foreign policy towards the neighbouring countries for the next five to ten years. Xi Jinping also explains the idea and implementation plan to resolve diplomatic issues in the region is important. This is because China border area of high strategic importance in terms of geographical location, nature, and mutual relations.

1.3.5 Two “Silk Roads” Strategy. In September 2013, Xi Jinping made the announcement in Kazakhstan goal to build the "Silk Road Economic Belt" China's together with the countries of Central Asia, where the implementation of the planned in three phases. At the same time in October 2013, Xi Jinping also expressed China's desire to strengthen maritime cooperation with ASEAN countries such the China-ASEAN ‘Maritime Silk Road’ of the 21st