Center for Security Studies

'South China' or 'West America' Sea?

4 Jul 2012

Today we examine the enduring character of great power politics in Southeast Asia by profiling maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

Much like Northeast Asia, balance of power dynamics are central to the security and foreign policies of Southeast Asian nations, and the region is also dominated by the interests of global actors. As we have seen this week, China’s growing economic and geopolitical influence across Southeast Asia has become a source of geopolitical anxiety for the US. Meanwhile, the increasing strength of ASEAN – both among its members and in its diplomatic initiatives – suggests that an indigenous ‘third way’ to solve the region’s security issues is at least viable. Today, however, we look at the most salient feature of geopolitical confrontation in Southeast Asia – the maritime disputes of the South China Sea. For more information about the various disputes between China and a host of Southeast Asian states, see the map below:

Maritime Disputes in the South China Sea

Enlarged view: Google map of Southeast Asia
Click on the map to enlarge and interact

For further research into these issues, we recommend an interactive multimedia project – external pageFlashpoints: Security in the East and South China Seas – from our partners at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). The Flashpoints project makes available major new reports and other relevant research on the security of the South and East China Seas. Periodic bulletins highlight individual issues and add new information for Flashpoints users. A map and timeline of major incidents depicts and catalogues dozens of events of record that have occurred since the mid-1950s.

Flashpoints, which is underwritten in large part by the Smith Richardson Foundation, is a project within the Asia-Pacific Security Program of CNAS.

external page
Enlarged view: Screenshot of website with map

Further Resources:

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