CHANGING COURSE: U.S. POLICY IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA
BY LAUREN BATTEN
The Pacific Council recently hosted an installment of the Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China, featuring Rear Admiral Stephen Koehler of the U.S. Pacific Fleet (the second-highest ranking U.S. military official in the Pacific) and Bonnie S. Glaser of the CSIS China Power Project on the impact shifting U.S. policy will have on the South China Sea. The discussion was moderated by Alexandre Moore of the Pacific Council.
Here are takeaways from the conversation:
“China unilaterally wants to impose its will writ-large, but especially in the South China Sea,” Koehler said. “There has been an impetus for the United States to hold the line as an insurance piece for our allies and as an example of rules-based world order. China’s clearly making that move, and so there’s an opportunity here to act.”
Regarding the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, Glaser said the United States should sign it, while Koehler said military already adheres to it.
Glaser pointed out that in the Obama administration, there was an emphasis on free navigation of the seas, including the South China Sea. “You’ve got to be present to win,” Koehler said. “What we’re trying to do is ensure that this is indicative of a free and open rules-based international order. That’s where we want to be, that’s assurance for our allies, that’s deterrence of China. In the end, there’s no desire for conflict with China. There’s no desire for it to be ‘the world against China.’ It just seems that way because of how China is presenting it. We have to continue to be postured in that region in an effort for deterrence.”
“We want China to manage their disputes peacefully and resolve them in accordance with international law,” Glaser said. “The United States has treaty obligations to the Philippines but we do not have commitments to the other claimants of the South China Sea, so it’s unclear what exactly we would do if China did something to other countries. The United States has commitments to peace in the region but only has the one treaty obligation.”
“The Chinese stance on sovereignty has always been firm, especially under Xi Jinping,” Glaser said. “China will not give up an inch of land.”
“China thinks ‘might makes right’ and their priority is regional hegemony, specifically under Chinese-made rules that they establish, and that’s not consistent with international law,” Koehler said. “It’s consistent with the betterment and desires of China. Beijing has not shown any intention to change their course. They continue to push to try to be the leader in their own mind in this region, for example with Hong Kong. China is trying to accelerate and force compliance through malign influence throughout the region. We need to be steadfast and work with allies and partners to counter that.”
“We’re 100 percent committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Koehler said.
The Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China aims to provide proactive and forward-looking solutions to some of the most complex local, regional, and global issues facing the United States and China today, through regular engagement in debates and discussions with the foremost experts in Chinese affairs. The Edgerton Series is made possible by generous support from the Edgerton Foundation. We thank Dr. Bradford and Ms. Louise Edgerton for their continued support of and dedication to the Pacific Council.
WATCH THE FULL CONVERSATION BELOW:
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The views and opinions expressed here are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Pacific Council.
