The Geopolitics of Chinese Access Diplomacy

China’s continuing economic growth and expanding involvement in global affairs poses major implications for the power structure of the international system. One very important aspect of China’s grand strategy is its continued emphasis on access diplomacy, or “politics of routes.” China is in the process of aggressively securing access to natural resources, while simultaneously developing overland transport networks in pursuit of its national interest. Recent changes in the political climate in the Asia-Pacific region only increase the requirement to gain an understanding of Chinese thought concerning its implementation of access diplomacy.