The South China Sea is a semi-enclosed sea with a complex set of territorial claims by a number of Southeast Asian nations and China being the dominant claimant country. The United States is not a party to such claims. However, the US has great concerns pertaining to peace and stability of the region as far as freedom of navigation in the SCS is concerned, which has significant repercussions for its strategic interests. In addition to the utilization of the SCS as an important international trade route, the US is also committed to protect the interests of its allies in the region, as well as those of its companies involved in offshore hydrocarbon activities. In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attack, the dynamics of a new world order push the US to strengthen its presence in the region in order to combat any security threats against its interests. This article investigates China-US relations in the SCS and highlights the law of the sea prescriptions that facilitate the understanding of the legal nature of the tensions between China and the US.

The UNCLOS and the US-China Hegemonic Competition over the South China Sea
  Ⅰ. Introduction
  Ⅱ. Background of the Conflicts over the SCS
  Ⅲ. The Chinese and Other Coastal States’ Position over the SCS
  Ⅳ. The US Policy in the SCS
  Ⅴ. US-China Relations over the SCS in the Context of UNCLOS
  Ⅵ. Conclusion

• Kamrul Hossain(Researcher at the Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law in the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland, Finland)