What's Really Going On In The South China Sea?

David Welch, PhD

David A. Welch is University Research Chair and Professor of Political Science at the University of Waterloo, and teaches at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, where he teaches global governance and international security.

He has written extensively on East Asian security in general and the South China Sea in particular.

What's Really Going On In The South China Sea?

The South China Sea is generally recognized as one of the most important bodies of water in the world politically, strategically, and economically. If you read any newspaper article on the South China Sea nowadays, you will encounter stock phrases such as, “China claims virtually the entire South China Sea.” You will also encounter a narrative that insists that China is seeking to control it and is guilty of “aggression.” This is all nonsense. To really understand what is happening in the South China Sea, you need to pay close attention to international law, domestic and bureaucratic politics in China, and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

This event is part of the Fall 2023 Speaker series.