The South China Sea as symptom of Asia’s dynamic security order

This chapter’s goal assesses the reemergence of the South China Sea dispute and argues that it is a symptom of the transition from a stable to a contested regional security order in Asia. It begins by describing the order that has prevailed for the past four decades. It then shows how contestation has replaced consensus as the regional order’s central feature. Following this the chapter shows how the South China Sea disputes are a symptom of the changes in train. The chapter concludes that while contested Asia will be more unstable than previously a number of moderating forces mean that systemic conflict remains unlikely.