ABSTRACT
Territorial disputes are one of the major flashpoints in international relations in the Indo-Pacific – and China is at the center of almost all of them. Today, China is highly sensitive about its sovereignty and territorial integrity, but in the past, its various dynasties did not have clearly defined borders with the neighbors. Complex territorial disputes are one of the legacies of this past. This chapter focuses on two long-term territorial disputes in which China has been engaged and where a potential military escalation is possible, if not likely – the South China Sea and the border conflict with India. In the past, China has chosen to descale some territorial conflicts in times of significant internal upheaval. On the other hand, when China feels an outside threat, it can opt to prove its strength through armed forces. China has become the dominant player in the region and is effectively the second most powerful state actor in the world after the United States. For the stability of the international community, it is crucial how the Chinese government decides to deal with these conflicts.
