ABSTRACT
One of the main themes permeating current discussions about China’s foreign and security policy is the theme of assertiveness. Indeed, assertiveness has become the catchphrase to describe almost all of Beijing’s conduct in economics and trade, diplomacy, politics, and security towards third states and other relevant stakeholders, such as multinational cooperation and non-governmental organisations. This chapter gathers and analyses concrete evidence underpinning these allegations. The leadership elite in Beijing has come to the – possibly correct – conclusion that although China may not (yet) be strong enough to overtake the United States but strong enough to pursue what they see as China’s legitimate ‘core interests’ in the Indo-Pacific region. China now is either the main or a pivotal factor in all regional flashpoints. This includes the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea as well as conflictual relationships with regional neighbours, such as Japan, India, and Australia. This chapter’s discussion will demonstrate that China’s rise and subsequent assertiveness has led to a recalibration of how many regional states conceive of their own national (in)security, and why a new equilibrium is of the utmost necessity.
