The South China Sea PT. 3

PART 3: The South China Sea Paradox: A Dilemma of Chinese Security and Realism Versus International Peace and Law

You can find the previous parts linked below:

Part 1

Part 2

Conclusion

"The Chinese have never been comfortable living under other peoples' rules or cultures. Their civilization was at the center of everything; they set the terms of their engagement with the rest of the world, not the other way around. Chinese ideas, products, and institutions flowed outward; the world came to China seeking its wealth, its books, its philosophy, and its wonders. The Chinese self-perception of exceptionalism, that their civilization was superior and thus deserved to be on top of a world hierarchy, had not faltered for nearly all of its lengthy history. Only when China was weakened did the Chinese grudgingly accept the dictates and norms of others...Each time, the Chinese watched and waited for their moment to set the world right-side up, and as soon as they regained their usual strength, they began reasserting their own world order, where China again reigned supreme. The Son of Heaven was made ascendant, his virtue shining upon all in the four directions. The tributaries came to kowtow. The riches of Chinese civilization shared. As it always had been. As it always should be. This recurring cycle of the Chinese history of the world is repeating itself right now (SCHUMAN, M. I. C. H. A. E. L., 2021)."