Chinese territorial and maritime claims over large swaths of the South China Sea are based not only on economic and security considerations, but also on national identity making and the renewal of China’s past grandeur, which today is taking the form of President Xi Jinping’s vision of the “China dream” (Zhōngguó mèng). This term has become popular since 2013. It describes a set of personal and national ideals related to the rejuvenation of the country, including restoring the glory of the ancient times, when China presided over a Sino-centric order in East Asia.
