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The United States and the South China Sea Question

This chapter discusses the perspective of the US in the South China Sea (SCS) dispute. It analyzes how the US attempts to emphasize the cost to China of “unlawful” expansionism by combining diplomatic, information, military, and economic approaches. It also mentions the US Pacific Command (USPACOM) and US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), wherein Washington coordinates military responses to China and focuses on efforts to keep sea lines of communications open. The chapter explains how the US diplomatically operates both bilaterally and through ASEAN in order to contain Chinese expansion while continuing to emphasize the United States' long-established “hub and spoke” alliance system in the region. It explores the importance of the SCS to the US, including the evolution of its attitudes and actions toward China.