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South China Sea
Soft Power Diplomacy in the South China Sea
Darynaufal Mulyaman
2025
ASEAN should prioritise soft power – like environmental protection and humanitarian aid – to build trust and stability in the South China Sea.
Countering Disinformation in the South China Sea
Disinformation in the South China Sea is a complex challenge requiring a multi-pronged effort and global cooperation.
Reform UNCLOS Before It Is Too Late
- Eman Zahid Jokhio
- 2025
Great powers defy maritime law. Can UNCLOS survive?
When Push Comes to Shove
China’s persistent aggressive tactics threaten the territorial integrity of the Philippines and the international maritime order.
Victory and Defeat: The Philippines and the South China Sea
Underneath all of President Rodrigo Duterte’s strongman bravado is a deep-seated insecurity, resulting in a widespread defeatist attitude. This defeatism, while can be traced back to Filipino’s culture and the country’s longstanding alliance with the United States, manifests in Duterte’s pivot to China policy and neutrality in the Ukraine crisis. It has also provided a suitable context that ushered the return of the Marcos family to power.
A Matter of Firm Resolve: The Philippine’s Strategic Posture in the South China Sea
The Philippines has upheld international law on the South China Sea. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte declared that the 2016 Arbitral Award “is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon.”
Malaysia’s Diplomacy in the South China Sea: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
- Ruhanas Harun
- 2021
Is a small, peace-loving country with constraints in its capabilities, in the face of a big power’s blatant disregard for good neighbourhood policy condemned to accept such behaviour?
Indonesia and Maritime Rules-Based Order in the South China Sea
- Muhamad Arif
- 2021
While stopping short of a full-fledged balancing act, Indonesia’s recent attempts to consolidate support for UNCLOS put a check on China’s revisionist challenges in the South China Sea.
Foreword – Tensions in the South China Sea Series
This foreword launches the five-part “Tensions in the South China Sea” series. The series, featuring esteemed writers, aims to provide greater understanding of this complex issue.
South China Sea: The Need for Strong and Persistent Policies
- Pribadi Sutiono
- 2021
The complexities of the South China Sea issue require Southeast Asian states to develop strong, persistent policies. These should entail all “what-ifs” including the withdraw of the US and its allies from the South China Sea.
