Publication

American interests are increasingly at risk in the South China Sea due to the economic and military rise of China and concerns about its willingness to uphold existing legal norms. This paper argues that defending US interests and promoting the status quo need not – and should not – lead to conflict with China. Both the United States and China will continue to benefit from cooperation and, indeed, no Asian country has benefitted more from the US-led system of international order than China. Nevertheless, managing tensions and advancing cooperation in the South China Sea will require persistent, painstaking attention in Washington.