The South China Sea dispute: opportunities for ASEAN to enhance its policies in order to achieve resolution

This paper examines the ongoing dispute in the South China Sea with a view to identifying opportunities for ASEAN to enhance its policies in order to achieve resolution. It notes that China's longstanding dispute with a number of coastal states has resulted in an environment that is far from conducive to achieving peaceful settlement. It also notes that while ASEAN has tried to manage the dispute multilaterally through dialogue and consultation, it has not yet been successful in playing a mediating role due to a lack of consensus among its member states.

The paper highlights the evolution of the dispute and current developments within the South China Sea. It also examines China's foreign policy and its strategy in the South China Sea, as well as assessing the likely responses from ASEAN disputants and ASEAN's framework for dealing with the issue. The paper concludes by proposing a revitalisation of ASEAN, and suggesting how ASEAN should implement its policies to assist in managing the dispute, including how this is likely to impact on the situation over the coming decade.

This paper was also published in the Indo-Pacific Strategic Digest series.

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