ABSTRACT

For pessimistic realists, a major focus for the international security of East Asia is the rapid industrialisation of China, and the associated competition for energy resources in order to power its manufacturing industries. This chapter tackles a crucial, but under-theorised, comparison: What are the similarities and differences in the fundamental characteristics of maritime disputes in the East and South China Seas? Given their close geographical proximity, disputes in these regions have very different dynamics. It appears that while Asian countries have felt Beijing's diplomatic pressure and economic clout, there are subtle differences in China's approaches to disputes in the East and South China Seas. Building on the present literature, the chapter considers how other factors can enrich the bargaining model and the hegemonic stability theory as applied in the cases of the East and South China Seas, including constructivism and social factors in international relations.