The Spratlys: From Dangerous Ground to Apple of Discord

The South China Sea, and the Spratly Islands in particular, have become the focus of tension between the uncertain limits of China’s rise and the discomfort of its Southeast Asian neighbours at the prospect of becoming China’s backyard. The regional concerns of Southeast Asia overlap with the global concerns of the United States. The tension has been reframed by the global crisis of economic uncertainty that began in 2008 and sharpened by rhetorical confrontations in 2010. Because of the limited utility and adverse consequences of decisive unilateral action by any party, the dispute is likely to continue as a symbol of discord until it is defused by multilateral guidelines.