Publication

This bulletin looks at territorial disputes in the South China Sea and specifically at China's justifications for its territorial claims there. The authors examine the Chinese government's argument that its military actions in the South China Sea are a result of the provocative behavior of its rivals who have become emboldened by the US “pivot” to Asia and argue that, in fact, the data available does not support this claim. The bulletin then looks at the implications of these findings for US foreign policy, suggesting that Washington should promote the cooperation of ASEAN states as well as encourage ASEAN members to put the territorial disputes before international courts in order to restrain China’s intransigent behavior.