Ningbo, Wu

Abstract
Alfred Thayer Mahan, the founder of sea power theory, noted that control of ocean was a great influence on the rise and fall of states. In this sense, China’s maintenance of its maritime rights and interests will determine its economic prosperity, international standings, as well as influencing its national security and political international standing. While a maritime power with jurisdiction over a maritime area of more than 3 million km2, China’s maritime rights and interests have, however, faced long-term and complicated challenges. In recent years, especially, the disputes between China and other neighbouring countries over sovereignty of islands and maritime demarcation in the South China Sea have become increasingly intense. The article first outlines in terms of emerging challenges to China’s rights and interests in the South China Sea. The latter sections of the paper reflect on key issues for Chinese sovereignty and maritime rights, and analyses China’s policy response in the South China Sea.
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