This issue will deal with the ongoing territorial dispute in the South China Sea where numerous countries lay claim to fishing waters and exclusive economic zones in Southeast Asia. At issue is China's historical claim to lucrative fisheries and supply routes. The contested area concerns six nations, one third of global maritime traffic, untapped oil and natural gas reserves, military buildup and 5 trillion dollars worth of trade. It will explore the economic, diplomatic, military and environmental impact of resolving this conflict. --publisher's website.

1.The conflict : -- The South China Sea: an overview -- China's biggest ally in the South China Sea? A volcano in the Philippines / Steve Mollman -- The South China Sea dispute / Sean Mirski -- China v the rest / The Economist -- The South China Sea: some fundamental strategic principles / Amy Searight, Geoffrey Hartman. 2. Territorial disputes and the law : -- The legal dimension: the South China Sea and the law -- The South China Sea: explaining the dispute / Max Fisher -- Progress in the South China Sea? A year after the Hague ruling / Lynn Kuok -- Explainer: What are the legal implications of the South China Sea ruling? / Clive Schofield -- Here's why the South China Sea dispute will continue to haunt Philippine-China relations / Richard Javan Heydarian. 3. Competing claims : -- Competing claims: international interests in the South China Sea -- Vietnam is challenging China's control of the disputed South China Sea / Ralph Jennings -- Why is the South China Sea so important to the US? / Leszek Buszynski -- Japan is becoming [a] player in [the] South China Sea sovereignty dispute / Ralph Jennings -- Russia's tactics and strategy in the South China Sea / Anton Tsvetov -- Philippines not married to US, can still pursue China, says Manila's top diplomat / Catherine Wong -- Indonesia, long on sidelines, starts to confront China's territorial claims / Joe Cochrane -- Malaysia's special role in the South China Sea / Ho Yi Jian. 4. Environmental concerns : -- Protecting oceanic environments -- One result of China's buildup in South China Sea: environmental havoc / Jackie Northam -- The rising environmental toll of China's offshore island grab / Mike Ives -- One of the world's biggest fisheries is on the verge of collapse / Rachael Bale -- A blueprint for fisheries management and environmental cooperation in the South China Sea / Center for Strategic & International Studies -- Japan and China successfully extract "combustible ice" from seafloor in potential energy breakthrough / Matthew Brown. 5. Diplomacy, deterrence and freedom of navigation : -- International waters: FONOPS and the open ocean -- The U.S. FON program in the South China Sea / Lynn Kuok -- Freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea aren't enough / Julian G. Ku, M. Taylor Fravel, and Malcolm Cook -- Chinese warship seizes US underwater drone in international waters / Julian Borger -- Why Beijing is speeding up underwater drone tests in the South China Sea / Stephen Chen -- Thinking about long-term strategy in the South China Sea / Satoru Mori. 6. Sovereignty and codes of conduct : -- Ownership of the sea: sovereignty and territorial conduct -- China and the United States: a conversation with David M. Lampton -- Good fences or good neighbours in the South China Sea / Sam Bateman -- ASEAN, China adopt[s] [a] framework for crafting [a] code on South China Sea / Christian Shepherd and Manuel Mogato -- How China views the South China Sea: as sovereign territory / Dean Cheng.