Behind the South China Sea Disputes

Territorial disputes over islands in the South China Sea have long been a latent threat to regional security and cooperation in East Asia, involving not only China and some of its Southeast Asian neighbors, but also members of ASEAN. For instance, sovereignty disputes over certain South China Sea islands also exist among the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. To solve these disputes requires diplomatic wisdom and political resolve. Close political and socioeconomic ties between China and ASEAN countries will also hasten a solution to these disputes. The U.S. rebalance to the Asia-Pacific, a policy rolled out in 2011 by President Obama, however, has cast a pall over the issue. Motivated by hegemonic interests, the U.S. plays dual roles in the region – those of protector and rabble-rouser. Under its connivance, certain countries seize every opportunity to make trouble. This does not help to solve disputes in the South China Sea, but rather exacerbates tensions in the region.