Not only is the South China Sea of strategic importance; it is also rich in oil and other natural resources. As such, it is the subject of overlapping territorial disputes between several East and Southeast Asian countries as well as the scene of military tensions and potentially dangerous conflicts. But disputes over the South China Sea are much more complex than simply issues of military security. Environmental values, economic security and political developments are also involved. Spanning the full complexity of the situation, this volume:

* covers its historical and legal background
* analyses its environmental, economic, military and political dimensions
* assesses the potential for containing and resolving disputes as well as transforming the structures of conflict in the region.