The Spratly Islands warrant better understanding by U.S. policymakers in order to discuss nuanced responses to the region's challenges. To attain that needed understanding, legal aspects of customary and modern laws are explored to analyze the differences between competing maritime and territorial claims and why and how the parties involved stake rival claims or maritime legal rights. Throughout the monograph, the policies of the United States are examined through its conflicted interests in the region. Recommendations for how the United States should engage these issues, a more appropriate task than trying to solve the disputes outright, are then offered.

"December 2013." Format not distributed to depository libraries.

The Spratly Islands region and why it is important. Local economic importance of the Spratly region -- Regional security importance of the Spratlys -- Importance of the Spratly region to the United States -- Legal basis and claims in the Spratly Islands scrum. Customary international laws and claims -- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Spratly claims -- U.S interests and responses to the issues around the Spratly Islands. U.S. freedom of navigation interests -- Conclusion.