China’s Expansive Gaze: Maritime Ambitions and the Erosion of Regional Stability

In an alarming display of territorial vigilance, Chinese authorities recently seized approximately 60,000 imported maps in Shandong province, deeming them problematic for inaccurately depicting Taiwan as a separate entity and failing to include Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea. The maps, intended for distribution within China, violated the country’s Map Management Regulations, leading to a fine of 200,000 yuan (about $28,000 USD) for the importer. This incident is not merely an administrative crackdown; it underscores China’s unyielding commitment to enforcing its narrative of sovereignty, even over distant seas and islands thousands of miles from its mainland shores. Such actions reflect a broader pattern of expansionism that has positioned China as a dominant—and often domineering—force in Asia, upsetting neighbors and redrawing maritime boundaries through sheer assertion and military might. At the heart of this controversy lies the South China Sea, a vast waterway spanning over 1.4 million square miles, rich in fisheries, oil, and natural gas reserves, and traversed by one-third of global shipping traffic.

China’s claims here are encapsulated in the infamous “nine-dash line,” a U-shaped demarcation that encompasses roughly 90% of the sea, overlapping with the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of several Southeast Asian nations. This line, first drawn in the 1940s, has no basis in international law, as ruled by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 in a case brought by the Philippines, which declared China’s historic rights claims “without lawful effect.” Yet, Beijing has dismissed the ruling, continuing to militarize the region by constructing artificial islands on reefs and atolls, equipping them with airstrips, missile systems, and radar installations.

CNN is giving the chinese military parade more positive press than they gave to President Trump’s parade.

That says everything.

No wonder nobody gives a sht about what these crooks say anymore. Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/iZWHHUEC9c

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) September 3, 2025

These man-made outposts, numbering over 20 in the Spratly Islands alone, serve as forward bases, extending China’s reach far beyond its natural coastline. The repercussions for neighboring countries are profound and increasingly confrontational. The Philippines, for instance, has borne the brunt of China’s aggression. In recent months, Chinese Coast Guard vessels have repeatedly rammed Philippine resupply boats and deployed water cannons against Filipino fishermen near features like Thitu Island (known as Pag-asa in the Philippines) and Scarborough Shoal. These incidents, condemned by the United States as violations of international law, highlight how China’s actions infringe on Manila’s sovereign rights within its 200-nautical-mile EEZ.

Vietnam, too, faces similar encroachments. Hanoi has protested China’s fishing bans in disputed waters and the harassment of its oil exploration vessels, leading to standoffs that have occasionally turned violent. In 2014, anti-China riots erupted in Vietnam after Beijing placed an oil rig in contested areas, illustrating the domestic unrest stirred by these disputes. Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia are not spared. Malaysia’s claims around Luconia Shoals have clashed with Chinese patrols, while Brunei asserts rights over Louisa Reef, part of the Spratly chain that China also covets. Indonesia, though not a formal claimant to the Spratlys, has seen its Natuna Islands’ fishing grounds patrolled by Chinese vessels, prompting Jakarta to rename parts of the sea as the “North Natuna Sea” in defiance.

These overlapping assertions have fostered a sense of unity among Southeast Asian nations, with increased diplomatic cooperation and joint military exercises aimed at countering Beijing’s dominance. However, the asymmetry in power leaves smaller states vulnerable, as China’s strategy of “gray zone” tactics—short of war but coercive nonetheless—erodes their territorial integrity without triggering outright conflict. Fueling this expansion is China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), now the world’s largest by sheer number of vessels. With over 234 warships, including destroyers, frigates, and submarines, China surpasses the U.S. Navy’s 219 hulls, marking a dramatic buildup over the past decade. While the U.S. fleet boasts greater tonnage and technological sophistication—such as nuclear-powered aircraft carriers—China’s numerical advantage, combined with its massive shipbuilding capacity, positions it as a formidable maritime power.

The PLAN’s growth is not coincidental; it directly supports Beijing’s territorial ambitions. In the South China Sea, Chinese naval assets enforce the nine-dash line through patrols and blockades, while in exercises, they simulate scenarios that extend influence across the Indo-Pacific. Critics argue that this fleet, though large, lacks the blue-water projection of the U.S., but recent deployments to the Indian Ocean and beyond signal global aspirations. As one expert warns, in naval history, the side with the bigger fleet often prevails, raising alarms for the U.S. and its allies. China’s gaze extends beyond the South China Sea. In the East China Sea, disputes with Japan over the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu in China) have led to frequent incursions by Chinese fishing militias and coast guard ships, heightening the risk of miscalculation.

Taiwan remains the most volatile flashpoint, with Beijing viewing the self-governing island as a breakaway province. Daily air incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone and live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait underscore China’s readiness to assert control, even as it claims “reunification” peacefully. These actions not only threaten Taiwan’s democracy but also challenge the post-World War II order, where freedom of navigation is paramount. This pattern of behavior paints China as the world’s maritime bully, leveraging economic coercion, military posturing, and legal revisionism to “steal” territory from weaker neighbors. From ramming vessels in the Philippines to map seizures at home, Beijing’s actions foster resentment and instability.