The Logic behind the U.S. Policy over the South China Sea Dispute and China's Countermeasures: A Interventionist View

The U.S Policy towards South China Sea is significant to China's settlement of the sovereignty disputes in the area. In essence, the US intervention in the South China Sea disputes is triggered by its concern of its economic interests, security interests, political interests and cultural traditions. As international situation developed, the United States has changed its stance from maritime regimes to positive interventionism. Based on an analysis of American scholars' views of the U.S. interests and the framework of American interventionism, this paper outlines the possible measures that the United States will possibly take: 1) use international laws to deny China's territorial demands on South China Sea; 2) take advantage of its economic competiveness to intervene in the South China Sea disputes; 3) enhance its military presence in the South China Sea and keep its navy advantages over China; 4) seek multilateralization and internationalization of disputes by building a multilateral security mechanism on the South China Sea. Therefore, countermeasures should be taken on the side of China to 1) build a good country image and obtain support from international society, 2) build a strong navy force, 3) adapt its goals in settling the dispute to its economic development, 4) establish a legal protection system, and 5) deal properly with US' concern over its interests in South China Sea.