Perspective – U.S. Strategy in the South China Sea
This paper discusses the importance of working with allies as the U.S. seeks to strengthen its position in the South China Sea. It examines the benefit of increasing joint exercises with India, Japan, and Australia, as well as the possibility of assisting regional states to increase their own defensive capabilities. The US has ceded leadership in the region by withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and failing to ratify the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Now, as it seeks to engage diplomatically with ASEAN states, it will have to focus on following through in its diplomatic efforts and seek new leadership opportunities in the region. It will also be necessary for the US to counter China’s narrative in the South China Sea by creating its own narrative—clearly conveying the importance of laws and norms in the international community.
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