Abstract
As scholars interested in theories of empire our investigation focuses on the physical construction of islands as a means, both literally and litorally, of empire-building. In traditional academic discourse on imperialism, empires are often described as large states invading foreign territory. The presumption is that this territory exists and is ready to be occupied. Our work instead examines the possibility of states physically creating new territory in order to establish or expand their empires. We focus upon an initiative by China, the world’s most populous country and a growing super-power “seeking a regional and global role” (Mitter in modern China: a very short introduction. OUP: 2008: 2), to develop a land reclamation campaign for the construction of “massive air bases” (Hayton 2016) on at least seven previously uninhabited rocks and reefs in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
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Notes
Whilst we recognise that the use of the term South China Sea is contested by some nations, such as the Philippines and Indonesia, we continue to use it here as it remains officially approved by the International Hydrographic Organization of which both the above-named countries remain members as of May 2020. See: Limits of Oceans and Seas, Special Publication number 23, 3rd edition (Montecarlo 1953), 30–31.
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Alessio, D., Renfro, W. Building empires litorally in the South China Sea: artificial islands and contesting definitions of imperialism. Int Polit 59, 687–706 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41311-021-00328-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41311-021-00328-x