China Primer: South China Sea Disputes

Abstract

Multiple Asian governments assert sovereignty over rocks, reefs, and other geographic features in the heavily trafficked South China Sea (SCS), with the People's Republic of China (PRC or China) arguably making the most assertive claims. The United States makes no territorial claim in the SCS and takes no position on sovereignty over any of the geographic features in the SCS, but has urged that disputes be settled without coercion and on the basis of international law. Separate from the sovereignty disputes, the United States and China disagree over what rights international law grants foreign militaries to fly, sail, and operate in a country's territorial sea or Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 02, 2021
Accession Number
AD1169960

Entities

People

  • Ben Dolven
  • Ronald O'Rourke
  • Susan V. Lawrence

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Coast Guard
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of State
  • Governments
  • International Law
  • Islands
  • Law
  • Maritime Domain Awareness
  • Maritime Security
  • Materials
  • National Security
  • Oceans
  • Philippines
  • Political Systems
  • Security
  • South China Sea
  • United States
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Asian Economic Studies
  • Government and Public Administration Law.