This collaborative and edited volume explores the geopolitical and geostrategic significance of the South China Sea disputes. Experts from interdisciplinary fields and knowledge analyze the South China Sea's historical and contemporary strategic significance alongside the dynamics of evolving political powers in Asia. Overall, Navigating Uncertainty in the South China Sea Disputes explains why this issue resonates on a global scale and where it will move from here.
This book explores a complex conflict challenging democracy, patriotism, resources, power, and the nature of Asia's future identity. With the increasing demand for natural resources in the region, it is becoming difficult to maintain a balanced and humanistic approach on the global stage. Navigating Uncertainty in the South China Sea Disputes will answer two key questions: first, why the South China Sea is of vital importance to Asia-Pacific nations; second, cover the interests of external powers and explain what international laws apply to the South China Sea, detailing rules that all parties should follow. By focusing attention on these issues, we hope to encourage scholars to expand the range of texts and genres they are willing to explore in search of nuanced ideas and debates.
Sample Chapter(s)
Foreword
Contents:
- Foreword by Zhiqun Zhu
- About the Editor
- About the Contributors
- Acknowledgments
- List of Figures and Table
- Acronyms
- Introduction (Nalanda Roy)
- China's Geoeconomic Diplomacy and the South China Sea Dispute: Promises and Pitfalls (Romi Jain)
- US–China Rivalry and the Paradox of the South China Sea Disputes (David Rosenberg)
- China's Relations with the Philippines Since Duterte: Challenges and Opportunities (Christopher B Primiano)
- US Foreign Policy in the South China Sea (Barry Balleck)
- One Belt One Road: A Bargain in the South China Sea Disputes (Nalanda Roy)
- Conclusion: Will Saber-rattling Continue in the South China Sea? (Nalanda Roy and Daniel Katz)
Readership: Aimed at researchers, scholars, practitioners, and students (advanced undergraduate and postgraduates), this book will be useful as both primary and supplementary material in the following courses: Asian Regional Security, Asian Politics, Politics of East Asia, Maritime Security, US Foreign Policy in Asia, International Law and Maritime Disputes, Comparative Politics in Asia, International Relations and Geopolitics, Military Strategy in Asia, Geopolitics and International Law, Conflict Resolution in East Asia, Asian Security and International Security Studies, and Conflict, Violence and Peace.
"Giving the reader a wide variety of assessments and assertions, providing insights that have rarely been addressed, and writing in clear language ... this work will be important reading for those who have an interest in the South China Sea, as well as those who want to understand security issues in the Asia-Pacific region."
Professor Bruce Bechtol
Angelo State University, USA
"This book reflects itself as an extraordinarily illuminating text for readers who want to graft the principal ideas and events surrounding this never-ending geopolitical saga."
Professor Tridib Chakraborti
Jadavpur University, India
"The South China Sea is certain to remain a major epicenter of geopolitical conflict ... Roy's Navigating Uncertainty offers first-rate essays on all the issues, written by experts in accessible language, and should have great appeal to specialists, students, policymakers, and general readers. Highly recommended."
Professor Yale H Ferguson
Rutgers University, USA
"This edited volume makes an important contribution to the understanding of conflicting interests of regional actors from the geopolitical and geoeconomic perspective. It is highly recommended as an essential read for policymakers, the strategic community, academia, and graduate students."
Professor B M Jain
Editor-in-Chief, Indian Journal of Asian Affairs
"This book provides a detailed overview of the South China Sea dispute and its importance to questions of territory, foreign policy, nationalism, and economics ... The book should be of interest to both academics and those in the policy community. A great read!"
Professor Amanda Murdie
University of Georgia, USA
"Useful to both scholars and policymakers alike who are attempting to grapple with the rise of China and its consequences for the United States and the regional states."
Professor T V Paul
McGill University, Canada
"The volume so ably elucidates some of the most confounding and contentious policies and postures unfolding US–China rivalry in and around the South China Sea."
Professor Swaran Singh
Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
Dr Nalanda Roy is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and International Studies and an Inclusive Excellence Faculty Fellow at Georgia Southern University. Dr Roy serves as a visiting scholar with the Center for Genocide and Human Rights, Rutgers University, and is the associate editor of the Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, SAGE. She also serves as the board member for International Studies Review, Oxford University Press, Perspectives on Global Development and Technology, Brill Publications, Journal of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs, Routledge, and South Asian Survey, SAGE. She published her first book, Bitter Moments — The Story of Indonesian Fragmentation, in 2015. In 2016, she published The South China Sea Disputes — Past, Present, and Future. She also recently published Exploring the Tripod: Immigration, Security, and Economy in the Post-9/11 United States in 2020. Dr Roy is on the board of directors with the City of Savannah and works for the Greater Savannah International Alliance.