This book is a comprehensive political study of the South China Sea (SCS) disputes. With over US $5 trillion worth of trade passing through it every year and a history of military flashpoints, the SCS is invariably a hotbed of great power rivalry. Drawing on extensive fieldwork and interviews with experts and those directly involved with the disputes, this book is indispensable for students and researchers of maritime studies, security studies, politics and international relations, geopolitics and Asian studies.