Territory Disputes in the South China Sea: Impact on Regional Security, Natural Resources, and International Trade

Summary:

This Risk Report highlights the connection of territorial disputes in the South China Sea with security, trade, and energy-related factors. As a pivotal point of international maritime trade, military conflict in the South China Sea would inhibit safe trade in the region and have devastating effects on the global economy. This would not only affect China, which plays a key role in the territory dispute, but also a large part of the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, the United States, and by extension, Europe.