The Future of Surface Warfare in Countering Chinese Military Activity in the South China Sea
Abstract
The free flow of commerce and freedom of navigation through the South China Sea (SCS) significantly impacts security and stability in the INDOPACOM area of operations. Around 3.4 trillion U.S. dollars of goods transits these waters each year, and "many U.S. allies and partners are highly dependent on both the commerceand the resourcesthat can be extracted from it."1 Indeed, restrictions on economic activity in the region pose a significant threat to prosperity and security for U.S. partners in the region. The U.S. has responded to this reality in recent decades with a policy centered on freedom of navigation. INDOPACOM strategy commits to upholding "a free and open Indo-Pacific in which all nationsare secure in their sovereignty and able to pursue economic growth consistent with accepted international rules"2 INDOPACOM's policy reflects a reaction to expanding Chinese maritime claims in the South China Sea that are inconsistent with international laws and customs. Beijing has constructed man-made military infrastructure atop coral reefs and infringed on the internationally recognized economic rights of other nations within the South China Sea. This dynamic will continue to threaten stability and security in INDOPACOM into the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 09, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1174745
Entities
People
- Daphne R. Marsh
Organizations
- Naval War College