%0 Journal Article
%T Winds of Change: Assessing China¡¯s Assertive Turn in Foreign Policy
%A Nien-chung Chang Liao
%J Journal of Asian and African Studies
%@ 1745-2538
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/0021909618762477
%X The current debate on the question of whether China has become more assertive involves two opposing opinions on Beijing¡¯s foreign policy orientation. This article argues that the key question is whether China is about to change its approach to foreign policy, one which has enabled its ¡°peaceful rise¡± in recent decades. It examines variations in Chinese foreign policy by developing a set of interrelated indicators of changes in a state¡¯s external behavior. The results reveal a marked increase in China¡¯s military spending and power projection capability, foreign aid, and diplomatic initiatives after the 2008 global financial crisis, as well as an expansion of Beijing¡¯s alliance commitments through the establishment of partnership relationships around the world. These findings not only support the increased assertiveness argument but also indicate a larger transformation in Chinese foreign policy¡ªChina is becoming more active diplomatically as part of its quest for great power status
%K Assertiveness
%K Chinese foreign policy
%K foreign aid
%K military spending
%K strategic partnership
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0021909618762477