The South China Sea and the Building of a National Maritime Culture

Abstract

This article investigates the nationalistic rhetoric disseminated by the Chinese political elite regarding the South China Sea, exploring how this political discourse contributed to building a collective consciousness of the sea among Chinese citizens and to creating a new maritime province.

China's ocean culture and consciousness: Constructing a maritime great power narrative

“…But his voyages were not for looting resources but for friendship... [fostering] understanding, friendship and trade relation[s] between China's Ming Dynasty and foreign countries in southeast Asia, west Asia and east Africa' [82]. The symbolism has been well received among at least some audiences: Singaporean and Javanese officials have constructed a temple honouring Zheng He and have incorporated him into local maritime history [83].…”