A new chinese national identity: The role of nationalism in chinese foreign policy

Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, the People’s Republic of China has moved to a more proactive foreign policy. While the Chinese economy’s increased importance within global production has given China a greater influence on the world stage, a more proactive Chinese foreign policy has its roots in the rise of a new Chinese nationalism. This chapter analyses two case studies of the effects of China’s new nationalism on Chinese foreign policy: Sino-Japanese relations during the Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Islands disputes of 2013-2019 (reactive case), and Sino-Malian relations during Chinese peacekeeping missions in 2013 (proactive case). It argues that in policy formation, domestic Chinese nationalism is a factor that warrants greater consideration for Chinese foreign policymakers than it had elicited prior to Xi Jinping’s administration.