The Diaoyu Islands (Chinese name)/Senkaku Islands (Japanese name) in the East China Sea are under dispute between Japan, China, and Taiwan. The Japanese government administers them today. China sends Coast Guard vessels to accompany fishing trawlers in the Senkaku Island's waters increasing the potential of military conflict. In the South China Sea, a U.S. Geological Survey in 1993 estimated the sum total of discovered and undiscovered oil and gas in the South China Sea to be quite extensive. China officially claims a majority of the area due to China's nine-dash-line claim and artificial island building. China's nine-dash-line claim includes islands claimed by other nations throughout the South China Sea creating multiple disputes in the area. Some of these disputes have resulted in bloodshed. The disputes in both the East China Sea and South China Sea could draw the U.S. into a military conflict with China due to our defense treaties with Japan and the Philippines. The research evaluates the current U.S. military strategy in the South China Sea and East China Sea. This thesis evaluates current factors within the two disputes through the Ends, Ways, Means, and Risk approach and how much Risk the U.S. military is taking with the current strategy.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited -- Report documentation page. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student author and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.) -- Thesis approval page. 15 June 2018 -- Thesis approval page.