The Obama Administration 's Policy On The South China Sea

The South China Sea issue, which originated in the1970s, is a worldwide hot-spotissue. Now it has already developed into a complex international issue. This hot-spotissue is both complex and sensitive and due to the intervention of the major powersoutside the region, it is becoming more and more tricky. This issue is not only ahistorical one which refers to the disputes over territorial sovereignty but alsoinvolves international law, relations among major powers and regional security.The South China Sea issue, in the final analysis, is a bilateral issue between Chinaand its neighboring countries within the region. However, since the end of the ColdWar, the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region has changed dramatically and therise of emerging countries has made the South China Sea geopolitically andeconomically more important. The United States has begun to intervene in the SouthChina Sea disputes and readjust its strategic relationships with Southeast Asiancountries and its Asia-Pacific allies with a view to containing China’s maritimemilitary strategy. In2009, the Obama administration took office and explicitly putforward the Asia-Pacific “Rebalancing” Strategy. The attitude of the United Statestowards the South China Sea, which is seemingly neutral and reserved, has becomethe most influential external factor on the South China Sea issue.This thesis, through reviewing the historical evolution and current situation of theUnited States’ policy on the South China Sea issue, attempts to study the backgroundand main content of the Obama administration’s policy on this issue, which hasemboldened the countries around the South China Sea to take a tougher line, thusposing a big challenge to China. The thesis intends to help China figure out thestrategic countermeasures on the South China Sea disputes through analyzing thehistorical origin, strategic connotations and impacts of the Obama administration’spolicy on this issue.