Publication

This paper analyzes China's policy toward the South China Sea (SCS) disputes between the late 1990s and 2008. It focuses on why Beijing has pursued a relatively balanced approach during this period. The author argues that while the SCS issue is a Chinese foreign policy imperative, the country has pursued a SCS policy of calculated moderation to achieve its interests in development, security and sovereignty. The author concludes that China's balancing behavior is likely to continue, and that peace and stability in the SCS are likely to be maintained.