CAMPAIGNS AND DRONES: MARITIME SECURITY IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

Lasha  Tchantouridzé

Lasha Tchantouridzé Professor, the Joint and Combined Warfighting School, the Joint Forces Staff College, the National Defense University, Norfolk, VA, USA

Keywords: Maritime security, the South China Sea, the People's Republic of China (PRC), the United States Navy, disputed islands

Abstract

Review paper

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37458/ssj.6.1.1

The United States Navy remains active in the South China Sea, conducting operations to uphold the freedom of global commerce and navigation. This effort counters the People's Republic of China's expansive maritime campaign, which seeks to assert territorial control over the region by constructing artificial islands. Despite the South China Sea being part of the international commons, Beijing continues to militarize these islands, deploying naval forces while its Coast Guard harasses civilian vessels from neighboring states, particularly the Philippines. While diplomatic solutions remain possible, any attack on the Philippines would trigger a U.S. response under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between Washington and Manila.

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