Chapter Four: The US in the South China Sea

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (436-437) ◽  
pp. 151-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Raine ◽  
Christian Le Mière
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
The South ◽  
China Sea ◽  
The Us

Under the shadow of the giants: The ASEAN in search of a common strategy in a fluid and perilous Indo-Pacific region

2021 ◽  
pp. 205789112110145
Author(s):  
Renato Cruz De Castro
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Regional Power ◽  
Security Threat ◽  
The South ◽  
China Sea ◽  
The Us ◽  
Common Strategy

This article examines how the ASEAN is managing the quintessential security challenges of the 21st century, particularly China’s emergence as a regional power, its expansive territorial claim in the South China Sea, and the US–China strategic rivalry in the Indo-Pacific region. As an organization tackling these security concerns, the ASEAN lacks the essential mechanism for conflict resolution, operates through informal diplomacy and moral suasion, and relies on consensus in making decisions. As a result, China has effectively divided the association during the talks on the peaceful settlement of the South China Sea dispute. China is currently formulating with the ASEAN a Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. All the same, China has made sure that any future agreement with the ASEAN imposes no constraints on its expansionist moves in the contested waters, and contains provisions that benefit its interests in the long run. Meanwhile, US–China strategic competition has prompted the ASEAN to think of ways to deal with this potential security threat. However, the association has failed to come up with a common strategy. In conclusion, this article argues that China’s emergence as a regional power, its maritime expansion into the South China Sea, and the US–China geopolitical contest are testing both the capacity and the limits of the ASEAN in resolving these security issues.

Asia’s Mediterranean

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jude Woodward
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
The South ◽  
American Power ◽  
China Sea ◽  
The Us ◽  
Dramatic Shift ◽  
The One

This chapter (and the next) look at the US’s recent intervention in the South China Sea and China’s responses. It considers the varying domestic and strategic concerns of these primarily island countries. It analyses the drivers of their responses to the sovereignty disputes in the Sea and to the key US initiative of the TPP. This chapter and the next are linked to the one that follows on Vietnam, which also plays a critical role in the shifting relation of forces in the South China Sea disputes. This is the region where the US has invested most hopes in a dramatic shift in regional alignments against China. These chapters assess the US’s progress, and conclude that – despite its lack of a local ally with anything like the weight of Japan or South Korea and the immense geographic extension of American power involved in maintaining its presence in the region – in some respects the US ’rebalance’ strategies have made more progress here to China’s south than to its east.

scholarly journals Sino-US Antagonism in the South China Sea; Is it the Second Cold War?

2020 ◽  
Vol V (I) ◽  
pp. 40-49
Author(s):  
Tajwar Ali ◽  
Aftab Alam
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Small States ◽  
The South ◽  
China Sea ◽  
The Us ◽  
Military Support

South China Sea is a region of interest for both China, US and many other nations. For China, the South China sea is as important as the Caribbean Sea was important for the US in the first Cold War. The US, through small states near the South China Sea like Taiwan, Philippines, and Vietnam and japan spar Chinese hegemony in the region. China is ready to transgress international law when things go against the interests of China in the periphery of the South China Sea. China has created synthetic islands in the South China Sea, and these constructions are viewed ambiguously by the US. The surveillance of US warships in the region and its military support to Taiwan, Philippines and Vietnam evidently depicts the existence of a second Cold War in the region. China’s economy is an export-based economy, and most of the exports of China are sent through the South China Sea. An Apparent Clash of interests between the US and China is visible in the form of a new Cold War in the South China Sea.

scholarly journals KEKUATAN NASIONAL TIONGKOK DALAM SENGKETA LAUT TIONGKOK SELATAN

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 292-319
Author(s):  
Sukawarsini Djelantik
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Great Power ◽  
The South ◽  
China Sea ◽  
The Us ◽  
National Power

The South China Sea (LTS) has a strategic position and rich in natural resources. These waters are claimed by several countries such as China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Taiwan. The overlapping claims have not yet reached a resolution, even though tensions have increased and potentially to become an open conflict. The United States (US) and China have economic, political and strategic interests in winning the competition in the South China Sea. This paper answers the question what is China's position in the dispute in the South China Sea? Has China as a great power succeeded in utilizing its national power to control the waters? China's position is analyzed using the concept of national power consisting of Diplomacy, Information, Military and Economics (DIME), which is commonly used to assess state power. China's strength is compared indirectly with the US, which is the main competitor in the region from a diplomatic, military and economic point of view. From the diplomatic aspect, China controls countries in Southeast Asia which are part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) infrastructure project, whose various projects are funded through the Asian Investment Infrastructure Bank (AIIB). To confirm the claim, China has carried out various constructions of artificial islands in the disputed area, which are equipped with military facilities. From an economic perspective, China's rapid growth in recent decades has made it one of the most respected world powers. These facts indicated that China is a great power that has managed to match the power and influence of the US in the region. In the case of the LTS dispute, it is likely that China will win the competition, influence and support from the disputing countries. China; South China Sea; diplomacy, information, military, economy

scholarly journals The US Rebalance and Southeast Asia

Asian Survey ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 572-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheldon W. Simon
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
South China ◽  
Southeast Asian ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Military Assistance ◽  
The South ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Us Military ◽  
The Us

This article assesses Southeast Asian views of the US “rebalance,” examining reactions to US military deployments, military assistance to partners, and support for Southeast Asian diplomacy on South China Sea conflicts. Although not ostensibly designed to contain China, the rebalance provides Southeast Asia with hedging options against more assertive PRC actions in the South China Sea.

The courting of Vietnam

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jude Woodward
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
Vietnam War ◽  
South China ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
Political Systems ◽  
The South ◽  
China Sea ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Vietnam War ◽  
The Way

This chapter considers how the US is seeking to exploit past and present tensions between Vietnam and China to encourage Vietnam into a closer military and strategic relationship with the US to the detriment of China. It discusses how the US hopes to ‘triangulate’ relations between Vietnam, China and itself in the way it took advantage of the Sino-Soviet split to draw China into the US’s orbit. The idea that Vietnam would willingly get sucked into an American strategy to isolate China appears counterintuitive, given the Vietnam War and China and Vietnam’s shared ideology and political systems. But tensions over rights in the South China Sea have become a lever for the US. The chapter discusses how Vietnam has indeed moved closer to the US, but concludes that for the time being, despite ongoing tensions, its relations with China remain crucial and secure.

Turbulent seas

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jude Woodward
Keyword(s):  
South China Sea ◽  
South China ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
The South China Sea ◽  
The South ◽  
China Sea ◽  
Us Military ◽  
Military Presence ◽  
The Us

This chapter discusses the South China Sea island disputes that have become the frontline in the US’s growing confrontation with China in Asia and the justification for a reinforced US military presence in the region. It particularly examines the role of the Philippines. While its neighbours have tried to soothe relations with China and keep on friendly terms with the US, the Philippines has placed itself at the head of a confrontation with China in the South China Sea. Its interventions since 2010, particularly its decision to refer the issues to the Arbitration court at the Hague have played a key role in turning the Sea into a global security hotspot. The chapter argues that it is primarily down to the Philippines that the US has been able to reestablish its presence and become a key actor in the South China Sea, justifying a stepped up US navy presence.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document