The Spratly Island Dispute. A Case for a New U.S. Southeast Asia Security Strategy.

Abstract

For the past forty years, U.S. security strategy in the East Asia-Pacific region has remained relatively unchanged, relying primarily on bilateral alliances to keep peace and security. Triggered by the Fall of the Wall, and growing political and economic realities at home, the Clinton administration unveiled a new East-Asia policy of 'comprehensive engagement' designed to meet the challenges of a new world order in the Pacific. Yet, the Spratly Archipelago, in the vicinity of the South China Sea, plagued by age old territorial disputes, the hegemonic rise of China, and a diminished U.S. presence now threatens regional stability, calling into question the United States' new policy. This paper examines current U.S. policy, in light of on going tensions in the Spratly Islands and the South China Sea, by examining the risks to our vital interests in the region and recommending policy alternatives.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 15, 1996
Accession Number
ADA308522

Entities

People

  • Stephen P. Ham Jr

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alliances
  • Cold War
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of State
  • Flash Point
  • Foreign Relations
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Strategy
  • National Security
  • New York
  • Southeast Asia
  • Terrorism
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Asian Economic Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design