The Chinese Mindset and the South China Sea

Abstract

Chinese civilization is among the oldest in the world and has provided a rich historical and cultural heritage throughout Asia. This culture has been present for centuries, if not millennia, growing and waning within China and beyond. The Chinese mindset has been shaped by these periods, seeing the world’s largest nation as also the most important, and current times as a lull in a Chinese-dominated world. Radical differences in the development of Chinese and Western societies have produced very different schools of thought and worldviews. Because of this, professionals in the intelligence community need to have a firm grasp of this opinion and mindset, at both micro and macro levels. Western intelligence analysts will need to obtain a better understanding of Chinese history, culture, and worldview in order to correctly analyze their actions and predict future decisions and operations.

Keywords: China, PRC, South China Sea, SCS