The responsibility of power: shifts in Chinese conceptualisation of the legitimacy of overseas intervention to protect nationals abroad

ABSTRACT The number of Chinese nationals travelling, working, and residing outside of China has reached a historical high and will likely continue to grow. As China’s people and businesses conduct more and more of their activities overseas, domestic demand has increased for the PRC Government to take a more effective role in protecting Chinese nationals abroad. In tandem with larger shifts occurring in China’s conception of its global role including emerging ideas about great power responsibility, the desire to protect of nationals abroad will drive new concepts and approaches to international interventions in China, and may challenge long-held policies of upholding state sovereignty and non-intervention.