Explainer Series

Indo-Pacific Explainer:
The South China Sea Conflict

The South China Sea is a hub for global trade and abundant in marine and energy resources, making it both economically and politically very important. China makes sweeping claims of sovereignty over most of the South China Sea – but these claims conflicts with those of several Southeast Asian countries, as well as Taiwan. This territorial dispute has escalated in recent years due to China’s increasingly aggressive incursions, turning the area into a flashpoint in the broader strategic competition between the US and China.

This guide is provided as part of the Perth USAsia Centres ‘explainer series’ and is intended for education purposes. It is free to use and share but attribution to the Perth USAsia Centre is required.