The Return of Revisionism

Abstract

China's rise has been characterised by rapid economic and military growth. This growth has closed the gap between China and the US and ignited debate regarding the likelihood of a revisionist China challenging the status quo in the Asia-Pacific region. Ongoing debate about whether or not China is a revisionist or status quo power has been overtaken by events. Recent developments in the South China Sea indicate that China is already revising aspects of the status quo at the regional level, but it is doing so in small and incremental ways. This paper examines China’s incremental approach to revisionism as a unique political phenomenon in the twenty-first century.

Keywords: Revisionism, China, Foreign Policy, rising power