China's Declaration of a New ADIZ: Motivations and Strategic Goals
Abstract
China's establishment of an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea (ECS) raised concerns among neighboring countries, yet the ECS ADIZ has not significantly altered the regional aerial order over a decade. This limited impact prompts questions about China's underlying objectives in its declaration. This study examines ADIZ motives through security, normative, and domestic political lenses. Security-wise, the ADIZ aimed not just to boost air defense but also signal the use of assertive military force. Normatively, there was no intent to resolve territorial disputes through international legal channels; however, the ADIZ served as a legal tool to reinforce China's claims, akin to legal warfare. From a domestic political perspective, a shift from land to maritime and air forces aligns with potential military control strengthening under new leadership. While promoting a powerful China publicly, but the ADIZ's establishment cannot be solely explained as a tool to fuel nationalist sentiments among the Chinese population.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1225652
Entities
People
- Jisun Yoon
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School