Picture from Wikimedia Commons
According to THIS article, China plans to dispatch its research ship, Kexue, into Philippine waters. I think this helps tell the story of China’s Future approach to foreign policy.
What do they mean by ‘research ship’, is this another way of saying spy ship. I really don’t understand why this apparent territorial aggression is being used by China as its principle approach. Surely, Chinese foreign policy would be far more effective it used soft power and its immense cultural influence to shape events. That would be much more in tune with the approach of the great Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu, to go with the flow and take the path of least resistance. China would be able to achieve a cultural victory and immeasurably increase its influence and in the complete absence of conflict.
I wonder, will the Philippines respond by sending its own ‘research ship’ into Chinese territorial waters, perhaps adjacent to sensitive military installations. My guess is that it will not.
I would guess that this is not about research, it is more likely to be show of force – we can do this and there is nothing you can do about it! Like with the man made island in the South China Sea, this is about securing resources for the exclusive use of the expanding Chinese economy.
Will the traditional South East Asian ‘bandwagoning effect’ be reasserted by neighbouring countries accepting suzerainty of the Middle Kingdom? Or alternatively, will these countries band together to protect their interests like used to happen with the classic age of balance of power in Europe?
I suppose the Chinese approach might be a way of getting an answer to this question. It can then shape its future foreign policy accordingly.
cjknowles1972 
