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.