China’s Academic Battle for the South China Sea

By Shannon Tiezzi. Beijing supports increased research on South China Sea issues as part of a soft power push for control. China’s increased military and maritime surveillance activities in the South China Sea have been well-documented, both by foreign and Chinese media outlets. But China’s push to assert its claims over islands within the South China Sea is not simply unfolding in the military realm — the increased naval activities are backed by a renewed focus within the academic community. A recent article in China Dailyhighlighted one such organization, the Collaborative Innovation Center for South China Sea Studies (CICSCSS), based at Nanjing University. More...