With a new sense of confidence in its great-power status, China seemed to qualify the concept of a “peaceful rise” that its leaders have invoked since the era of Deng Xiaoping, adopting a more muscular foreign-policy approach within its neighborhood. Drawing on alleged historical rights, China began to expand its territorial claims, along with its military presence, in the South and East China Seas.
带着对其列强地位的新的信心，中国表面上符合自邓小平时代开始实施的“和平崛起”的概念，但对周边近邻采取了更加强硬的外交方针。中国基于所谓的历史权利扩大其在南海和东海的领土主张并派兵遣将。2013年，中国单方面宣布了覆盖其所主张但由日本控制的东海领土的防空识别区。