Everything You Need to Know About China's Aggressive Posture in the Indo-Pacific

Historical grievances and strategic ambitions revealed in this late night brain dump.

China’s aggressive position in the Indo-Pacific is a result of historical, political, and strategic factors. Historically, China is determined not to repeat what it calls the "Century of Humiliation," a period marked by European and Japanese domination. Chinese analyses often highlight that internal weaknesses in the Qing Empire made it vulnerable to foreign exploitation. Therefore, modern China focuses on strengthening its internal conditions to avoid giving any opening to outside powers.

China views many of its current maritime disputes as consequences of the chaotic end of the Qing Empire and subsequent internal conflicts. For instance, in the South China Sea, China continues to assert its claims over the Spratly Islands. Beijing sees international laws and maritime customs as rules established by dominant powers of the past, rules from which China was historically excluded due to its weakness. Now, as a major global power, China believes it can and should shape these rules to reflect its interests.

Western powers often argue that established international laws should not be changed, citing principles like “acquiescence,” where a country must enforce its rights to maintain them. The U.S. conducts "freedom of navigation" operations to challenge China's claims, aiming to prevent the acceptance of Chinese control through inaction.