South China Sea disputes in the Xi era

Since becoming president in March 2013, Xi Jinping often refers to the “Chinese Dream” in his first address to the nation as head of state on 17 March 2013 as having three broad prerequisites for bringing about the “renaissance of the Chinese nation”, that is, “following the Chinese road”, “developing the China spirit” and “concentrating and crystallizing China’s strength”. ¹ These notions fall alongside President Xi’s focus on building public trust, ² which signal a continuation of a more populist and nationalistic approach. Indeed, the announcement of the Chinese Communist Party’s Leading Small Group on the Protection of Maritime Interests headed by President Xi at the end of 2012 illustrates the importance the new president places on Chinese maritime interests and a coordinated policy-making process. This development signals increased policy emphasis on its maritime borders in the South and East China Sea by the new leadership, with significant implications for regional security and international relations.