Internationalization, Legalization and Deterrence: The United States and Japan in the South China Sea

Jeffrey Ordaniel

Lately, China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea has unsettled Southeast Asia. Beijing’s aggressive efforts to press its claim over 80% of the South China Sea have worried ASEAN. However, non-claimants have expressed interests in a peaceful resolution. Why is the United States so passionately involved? And why is Tokyo too worried? First, this paper traces the origins of the interests and threat perception of the U.S. and Japan towards the South China Sea. Second, this paper asserts that emerging strategies revolve around three concepts: inter-nationalization, legalization and deterrence, which can be categorized as either soft or hard balancing. Finally, this paper argues that the U.S. and Japan employ both types of balancing against threats to their interests as complements.