Security, Strategy, and Military Dynamics in the South China Sea

“This collection of essays is a valuable contribution respecting the critical reality of military strategy and security in the South China Sea – one of the most ‘dangerous’ areas of the world.” Ted L. McDorman, University of Victoria

“This book offers innovative insights for scholars interested in the security, strategy, and geopolitics of the South China Sea, as well as those interested in understanding the security dynamics raised by China more generally.” Christian Kaunert, International Centre for Policing and Security, University of South Wales

Gordon Houlden is Director Emeritus of the China Institute and Professor of Political Science at the University of Alberta.

Scott N. Romaniuk is Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Security Studies at the China Institute, University of Alberta, and Visiting Fellow at the International Centre for Policing and Security, University of South Wales.

Nong Hong is Executive Director and Senior Fellow of the Institute for China–America Studies, Washington DC.

Foreword by Stein Tønnesson

Introduction: Strategic Challenges and Escalating Power Rivalry in the South China Sea - Scott N. Romaniuk and Nong Hong

1. Between Competition and War: Complex Security Overlay and the South China Sea - Joshua Hastey and Scott N. Romaniuk

2. The South China Sea as an Echo Chamber of Chinese Foreign and Security Policy - Scott N. Romaniuk and Tobias Burgers

Part 1: Claimants of the Contested South China Sea

3. China’s Security Interests and Strategies in the South China Sea - Li Yang

4. Taiwan’s South China Sea Policy under the Tsai Administration - Yann-huei Song

5. Vietnam and the East Sea in Its Strategic Thinking -Đỗ Thanh Hải and Nguyễn Thị Linh

6. The Philippines and the South China Sea Dispute: Duterte’s Hedging Approach with China and the United States - Rommel C. Banlaoi

7. Competition, Contention, and Cooperation in the South China Sea: The Malaysian Perspective - Sumathy Permal

Part 2: Non-Claimants in Southeast Asia

8. A Wary Warrior: Indonesia’s “Soft-Assertiveness” in the South China Sea - Senia Febrica and Scott N. Romaniuk

9. The South China Sea Dispute: Regional Integration, Status Ad Quem, and Singapore’s Position - Hui-Yi Katherine Tseng

10. Cambodia’s South China Sea Policy: From ASEAN Aligned to Echoing Chinese Clientism - Veasna Var

11. ASEAN’s Involvement in the South China Sea Disputes: The Economics-Security Conundrum - Mingjiang Li and YingHui Lee

Part 3: Quadrilateral Security Dialogue States

12. The United States and the South China Sea Question - John Callahan

13. Japan’s Security Interests and Strategies in the South China Sea - Masafumi Iida

14. Australia’s Geopolitics and the South China Sea - Leszek Buszynski

15. India and the South China Sea Crucible: Cautious Inclinations of an Extra-Regional “Leading Power” - Sourabh Gupta

Part 4: Non-Claimants in Europe and Eurasia

16. Britain’s Pivot to Asia: The Big Picture - Ian Park and Kun-Chin Lin

17. Balancing and Hedging: The Two Levels of Russia’s Behaviour in the South China Sea - Alexander Korolev

18. South Korea and the South China Sea: A Middle-Power Model for Practical Policies? - Sukjoon Yoon

Conclusion: Looking over the Horizon – Prospects for Settlement of the South China Sea Dispute - Gordon Houlden