ISAS Working Papers

The South China Sea (SCS) disputes are regarded as one of the most difficult regional conflicts in the Asia-Pacific, in an 'arena of escalating contention'.2 Indeed, some scholars suggest that for the next 20 years, the South China Sea conflict will probably remain the 'worst-case' threat to peace and security in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Territorial sovereignty, contentions over energy, significance of the geographic location, threat to maritime security and overlapping maritime claims are all sources of the SCS disputes. 4 Being one of the most important seas of the world5 geopolitically, economically and strategically, the SCS attracts considerable attention in contemporary thinking in international relations and strategic studies. Moreover, it continues to be seen as a potential source of tension, and is becoming increasingly turbulent. Security in the SCS is a concern both for the regional countries like China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and extra-regional countries including India, due to their strategic and economic interests in this region. Any conflict in the SCS will pose a threat to regional and international security.