The South China Sea Disputes: Past, Present, and Future

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The South China Sea has long been regarded as one of the most complex and challenging ocean-related maritime disputes in East Asia. Recently it has become the locus of disputes that have the potential of escalating into serious international conflicts. Historical mistrust, enduring territorial disputes, and competing maritime claims have combined to weaken an at least partially successful regional security structure. Issues of concern include territorial sovereignty; disputed claims to islands, rocks, and reefs; jurisdiction over territorial waters, exclusive economic zones, and the seabed; regional and international rights to use the seas for military purposes; maritime security; rapid economic development; and environmental degradation. The fear is that increasing competition for energy and other resources will exacerbate conflicts and further fuel nationalism and sovereignty issues in the region. The SCS has an integrated ecosystem and is one of the richest seas in the world in terms of marine flora and fauna: coral reefs, mangroves, sea-grass beds, fish, and plants. National economic security can be easily affected by conflicts occurring in major international trade routes like the SCS, or how such an unclear situation might even give rise to environmental challenges in the future. The book creates an understanding as to why this region is important not only to the claimants but to global powers like the United States and India. The book examines current and potential conflicts in the South China Sea, and also evaluates how conflicts have been managed to date and suggests as to how they might be better managed in the future. This book concludes with recommendations for improving the situation in the region by ensuring a strong economic relationships, using high-resolution observation satellites, and undertaking joint development, and resource exploration etc.

Reviews

Competing territorial claims, combined with Chinese expansion and militarization of the South China Sea, make this one of the most potentially dangerous areas of the world. Nalanda Roy provides a thoughtful overview of the strategic significance of the region, its historical and current disputes, the complex international legal and institutional environment, and possible avenues to minimize the threat of violent conflict. -- Yale H. Ferguson, Rutgers UniversityNewark
Nalanda Roys The South China Sea Disputes is the only single-author, non-journalistic, and up-to-date comprehensive monograph on the topic so far. This book is recommended for scholarly and academic libraries and would be eminently suitable for graduate and undergraduate courses on international and security issues in Asia. It is an indispensable source on the topic, and I strongly endorse it. -- Jacek Lubecki, Georgia Southern University
This book is an informative source for anyone trying to comprehend the complexity of East and Southeast Asia. Nalanda Roys work is admirable both for its breadth and its specificity. This study meticulously explains the intricate details of current political circumstances within the context of broad historical trends. Readers will gain insights not only into sea disputes but also the functioning of ASEAN and key individuals in Asian and global politics. More generally, the book helps us to understand the South China Sea as not only a geographic area but also a political phenomenon that evolves tenuously according to the interests and machinations of a multitude of actors. -- Dwight Haase, University of Toledo
This timely and comprehensive study on the South China Sea disputes is a noteworthy addition to the existing literature on the subject. Its an indispensable guide that provides wonderful insights into this volatile matter and its ramifications in a clear, succinct, and compact manner and could be a treasure-trove for its readers. -- Tridib Chakraborti, Jadavpur University

Author Bio

Nalanda Roy is assistant professor at Armstrong State University.