ABSTRACT
The South China Sea has emerged as one of the most contentious issues in US–China relations. Tensions in this body of water have long simmered but during the second decade of the 21st century the South China Sea has risen to a slow boil. What explains the remarkable elevation of this flashpoint above other traditional Asia-Pacific flashpoints? What is the current situation and what does the future portend? In the South China Sea the United States and China each perceives the stakes to be high and escalation potential low. However, heightened geopolitical rivalry between the two countries can easily lead to increased bilateral tensions and greater likelihood of unintended military conflict.
