Insight: China owns South China Sea
The US appears to have lost the South China Sea permanently to China due to a failure by Washington to check China’s long-term strategy of ‘salami slicing’, its incremental actions that have gained an area the size of India under Chinese military control.
The conclusions were hammered out in a new report issued on 19 July by the US Congressional Research Service and viewed by Shephard. The report is intended for members of the US Congress.
The report, ‘China’s Actions in South and East China Seas: Implications for US Interests’, by Ronald O’Rourke, said that up until 2014
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Germany sinks F126 frigate programme in favour of cheaper MEKO A-200
On 24 June 2026, the German Ministry of Defence announced it was cancelling the F126 frigate programme in favour of procuring eight MEKO A-200 DEU frigates.
-
UK’s Type 31 frigate balances cost pressure with long-term export ambition
The UK shipbuilder’s full-year results to the end of March revealed the impact of the £140 million charge linked to design changes and rework on the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate programme.
-
US Navy expands non-standard acquisitions to rapidly field emerging technologies
The US Navy is increasing the use of OTA obligations to accelerate the procurement of seabed-subsea, littoral, expeditionary and uncrewed solutions.