Hcss report

to signal and communicate
its private information to the outside 
world 
for future cooperation.
The purpose of clearly making the world aware of its 
core interests is to draw a red line that other states should not to cross.
94
China’s increased assertiveness can be characterized as ‘non-confrontational’,
95
which 
means that at the strategic level China will not pursue confrontation with other 
regional actors. However, authors expect that China’s territorial policy will become 
stronger and even characterized by a more stubborn stance along with its increased 
power. The main reason, however, would be a concern for domestic legitimacy: a lax 
attitude of Chinese leaders would likely face prohibitively high domestic audience 
costs.
96
Looking at factual evidence, authors posit that China’s self-confidence has grown in 
several domains through its military and economic progress.
According to Chinese scholars, a 
stronger stance and new found confidence
have 
been reflected in 
several major recent events
: Copenhagen in 2009; the recognition 
of South China Sea as one of China’s core national (territorial) interests in 2010. The 
increasing mobilization of armed forces and build-up of military might, as well as the 
use of vetoes, are acknowledged by Chinese authors.
97
These examples were also 
identified by the selection of ‘Western’ articles.
China is 
increasingly voicing sovereignty concerns
,
98
getting involved in territorial 
disputes in the Korean Peninsula and the South and East China sea,
99
imposing 
blockades (e.g., through a heavy-handed response to American arms sales to 
Taiwan
100
), and even providing military protection. While in 1998 China had only verbally 
expressed concerns over the anti-Chinese riots backed by some high-ranking military 
officials in Indonesia, it now confidently sends navy ships and air force planes to 
evacuate entrapped overseas Chinese from the war zone.
101
But Chinese scholars insist that