It's a "We said, Xi said" Kind of Situation: Analyzing CCP Perceptions of US Freedom of Navigation Operations in the South China Sea

Abstract

This study comprises an analysis of strategic messaging within the international environment, specifically between the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and the United States. The author assesses the strategic narrative conveyed through US Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) in the South China Sea or Taiwan Strait, and what state-controlled, English-language Chinese media reactions reveal about how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) perceives these messages. The conclusion is that these media reveal important insights into CCP perceptions and show a trend toward limited internal acceptance of the US Freedom of Navigation (FON) narrative from 2015-2019. However, the CCP rejected ascribing broad international interests as the purpose of US FONOPs; the CCP instead perceived the operations primary purpose as serving US-specific interests, either internally-focused or as part of US-PRC power competition.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2020
Accession Number
AD1112355

Entities

People

  • Russell J. Kirklin

Organizations

  • Air University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Air Force
  • Civil War
  • Department Of State
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Military Aircraft
  • Military Organizations
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Naval Operations
  • Navy
  • Public Policy
  • Second World War
  • Treaties
  • United States European Command
  • Uss Decatur
  • Uss Lassen
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Asian Economic Studies
  • Theoretical Analysis.