Explainer Series
What are China’s objectives
in the South China Sea?
June 2024
Dr Benjamin Herscovitch is a Research Fellow in the School of Regulation and Global Governance at the Australian National University (ANU).His primary areas of research are Australia–China relations and China’s statecraft. He is the author of Beijing to Canberra and Back, a fortnightly newsletter chronicling Australia–China relations.Prior to joining the ANU, he was an analyst and policy officer in the Department of Defence, specialising in China’s external policy and Australia’s defence diplomacy. He was previously a researcher for Beijing-based think tanks and consultancies.
Watch the Explainer
Navigating Australia’s relationship with China has never been more complex. It remains a vital trading partner and is critical to global supply chains. At the same time, its assertive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific, including in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, is fuelling fears of a conflict in Australia’s near neighbourhood.
As one of Australia’s leading China analysts, Dr Herscovitch explains China’s objectives in Taiwan.