Asian Waters: The Struggle Over the South China Sea and the Strategy of Chinese Expansion

by Humphrey Hawksley

In the sphere of future global politics, no region will be as hotly contested as the Asia-Pacific, where great power interests collide amid the mistrust of unresolved conflicts and disputed territory. This is where authoritarian China is trying to rewrite international law and challenge the democratic values of the United States and its allies. The lightning rods of conflict are remote reefs and islands from which China has created military bases in the 1.5-million-square-mile expanse of the South China Sea, a crucial world trading route that this rising world power now claims as its own. No other Asian country can take on China alone. They look for protection from the United States, although it, too, may be ill-equipped for the job at hand. If China does get away with seizing and militarizing waters here, what will it do elsewhere in the world, and who will be able to stop it?In Asian Waters, award-winning foreign correspondent Humphrey Hawksley breaks down the politics—and tensions—that he has followed through this region for years. Reporting on decades of political developments, he has witnessed China's rise to become one of the world's most wealthy and militarized countries, and delivers in Asian Waters the compelling narrative of this most volatile region. Can the United States and China handle the changing balance of power peacefully? Do Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Taiwan share enough common purpose to create a NATO-esque multilateral alliance? Does China think it can even become a superpower while making an enemy of America? If so, how does it plan to achieve it? Asian Waters delves into these topics and more as Hawksley presents the most comprehensive and accessible analysis ever of this region.

Genres: China, History, Nonfiction, Politics, Asia, International Relations, Geography

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2018

About the author

Humphrey is an award-winning author, podcaster and journalist whose assignments with the BBC have taken him to crises all over the world. The three books in his future history series -- Dragonstrike, Dragonfire and The Third World War -- have been praised as authentic, catastrophic scenarios which begin with a Chinese strike in the South China Sea. His Rake Ozenna espionage thriller series is set in the Arctic and High North, beginning with Man on Ice and a Russian invasion of the Alaskan island of Little Diomede. Rake is an island native and a special forces veteran with the Alaska National Guard. The late, great Nelson de Mille applauded Rake as being smart and tough, 'and we’re glad to have him on our side.' Humphrey's non-fiction work includes Democracy Kills: What’s So Good About Having The Vote, published during the Iraq civil war and Asian Waters: The Struggle over the Indo-Pacific and the Challenge to American Power which examines the impact of Chinese expansion in Asia. Humphrey hosts the bi-monthly Democracy Forum Debates. His work has appeared in most mainstream media outlets and he has been guest lecturer at universities and think tanks such as the RAND Corporation, The Center for Strategic and International Studies and MENSA Cambridge. He moderates the Democracy Forum Debates on international issues and is a host of the Goldster Magazine Show and podcast.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

An examination of China's rise to power, it's goals and it's methods, as well as the response of the West, and the rest of Asia.

Strains an analogy here and there.

While it's interesting reading about China, what really stood out for me was how corrupt and incompetent the leaders in the West are. Lots of US politicians are still on China's payroll even after the Coronavirus.

Scary, really.

[Imran Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hawksley's book is a good, general introduction to the big picture security issues facing Asia viz a viz China. It provides a 'journalistic' review of recent history and security trends in Asia.

Readers should not expect too much detail on any one regional dispute. Instead, readers will get helpful snippets embedded in the big picture which provide a great jumping off point for more detailed research.

Asian Waters is a must read for anyone new to the Indo Pacific security environment. Hawksley presents enough information to support his case and pique interest in the subject.

[L. Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This area of the world is so important in many ways for the security of the West and international trade. Humphrey Hawksley does a very good job of laying out the issues and providing unique insight into the situation with China's rise and the Trump administration's response. I highly recommend for those interested in geopolitics!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asian Waters is a geopolitical books by Humphrey Hawksley. This book covers the Asia, spanning over years of political means and their ties to the rest of the world in regard to their politics. The book comprises of five parts, spanning over years of history of Asia. It starts with China and how it has the oldest civilization in the world. Each part of the book focuses on different areas of Asia, starting with South China Sea and ending in East Asia. The use of history and politics makes for a strong, comprehensive history of Asia and illustrates current days.

I want to start by saying that I am not usually one to engage in books that are about politics. I typically stick with the news because reading the books themselves usually have me lose my interest. However, Hawksley was able to keep not only my attention, but made a book to be engaging and understandable. Politics are complicated, but Hawksley made it comprehensible.

In addition to understanding, I also learned a lot. One of the main aspects I learned was China being one of the oldest civilizations. I also did not realize how much history involved the United States in Asia. I also did not realize the history of China and it getting involved with other areas in Asia or that Vietnam went to war with other countries other than the United States and won. While I appreciate the history of Asia being included, the inclusion of current events is also crucial as well as making connections. It is important that people know about the concentration camps in North Korea or locking up Muslims in Xianjiang.

Overall, I think people interested in politics would be interested in this book. If it can keep someone who is not interested engaged, people who like it would enjoy it. Asian Waters is also extremely comprehensive and informative!

[Benjamin David · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no doubt that we are living in times that seem to be forever threatening monumental shifts in how the organization of the world in understood. For generations, China has been seen by many in the United States as one of the most powerful and influential forces of the Asian continent but also that America has had the region under some degree of control. That control and the reasons behind it are far reaching and complex, of course, but America’s control in the Asian continent has not been questioned by the general masses in a long time. In Humphrey Hawksley’s, Asian Waters: The Struggle Over the South China Sea and the Strategy of Chinese Expansion, Hawksley presents a series of what-if scenarios that could each have the power to change the balance of power in the Asian continent forever. The earie thing about the book is that the triggers discussed all seem more probable than not.
I would happily recommend this book to anyone interested in issues relating to the complex world we live in. Whether those issues be military, economics, power balance, world history, military history, trade, or any other of the related topics, this book is full of fascinating information relating to how we got to where we are today – at least in terms of the relationships between Western and Asian powers and the current balances of power in the Asian region.
Asian Waters: The Struggle Over the South China Sea and the Strategy of Chinese Expansion is more than just a book on world history, trade, dominance, and power. It is also an eloquently written story of sorts. The book reads much like a work of historical fiction and is full of beautiful prose that helps transport you to the places and situations being discussed. I believe that the writer’s skill plays a big role in how the book reads, but I also think that the story is as relatable as it is because the places, people, and situations were written from the perspective of someone very familiar with the region and its issues. All in all, Asian Waters: The Struggle Over the South China Sea and the Strategy of Chinese Expansion is a fantastic read.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

As China ratchets up the provocations and looks to supplant the western powers in Asia and the worlds of economics and politics this book looked at the tensions in the region, the players, and the history behind them. A fascinating read that highlights the conflict between China and the US in particular as China looks toward a future where they are the dominant power as they break with international law and try to impose their authoritarian worldview over the democratic vision of the US. An up to date and easy to read book by a BBC foreign correspondent who has spent time reporting on and living in the region for decades. I received a free Kindle edition of this book through the Goodreads First Reads giveaways.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humphrey Hawksley gives the reader a comprehensive analysis of global politics and how the superpowers position themselves in the wake of universal conflicts. The author shares his knowledge of Asia and neighboring regions as he breaks down the role of America and why the United States is a crucial element in regard to world politics. 'Asian Waters' will enable you to view the world clearly, make you understand international relations, and appreciate the role of international governing bodies. The book is divided into 5 parts, with 4 parts covering different parts of Asia while the 5th bit focusing on great power status and those calling the shots.
The author’s narration is excellent. The reader enjoys going through the book as the author writes to make even the amateurs understand why it is important for countries to form relations. Being a longtime international correspondent covering the regions of Southern, South East and Eastern Asia makes Humphrey Hawksley an expert in the subject he wrote about. The author is non-partisan with his views and thorough with his research. Reading his book will make you appreciate the work he has done for decades, as his knowledge is impactful to all. Humphrey Hawksley is engaging in his writing. How he highlights topics and subtopics gives one a clear interpretation of the subjects. I like how he covered China.
When reading about the disputes in the South China Sea and the forces that are pushing these conflicts, you get to realize how complicated running a national or regional body is. The author divides every individual body or country and covers all the important areas the reader would want to be covered. Can China become a superpower in the near future? Does the East Asian country need support from countries like America? Can other smaller Asian countries get to be as influential as China? Humphrey Hawksley answers these and more questions in his book ‘Asian Waters’. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy literature on global relations and politics.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite genres to read is non-fiction that is written like fiction. And that is exactly what Hawksley has been able to do here in Asian Waters. He has taken a topic, geopolitics, that many find rather dry to read about, and meshed it with his expertise in fiction writing and as a BBC foreign correspondent, to create a page-turning read.

I won’t lie, I never thought that I would want to read, let alone enjoy, learning about the Asia-Pacific conflict, the South China Sea, and Chinese expansion, but Hawksey has been able to describe it in a way that most people will understand. And he has been able to keep it informative without sounding pretentious like some political books can be. Hawksey invites the reader into an important topic with easy to digest information.

As a novice in this topic, I really appreciated how much time he spent giving a description of each country that is involved in China’s water expansion. It definitely helped to piece together the treacherous puzzle that unfolds throughout the book.

Even though the topic would not be something I am normally drawn to, it is global news that needs to be shared due to its heavy consequences to the entire world if China continues along this path. Asian Waters has made this a more accessible topic for the masses instead of just a small group of readers.

I believe everyone should understand more of what is going on in the world instead of just focusing so narrowly on just what is going on at home. This book is a very important read and it has definitely opened my eyes. I look forward to checking out the other books that Hawksley has written.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humphrey Hawksley from his front line position as international correspondent covering the political fault lines of Southern, South East and Eastern Asia over the last forty years, has regularly, through his broadcasting, his writing and even his novels, warned of the dangers facing the post-1945 World Order and world peace. Many of the concerns aired in his survey of tensions in the South China Sea, ‘Asian Waters’ (first published in 2018) have in only two years acquired critical mass, as the US-China relationship has shown signs of fracture, the North Korean nuclear threat has grown, the international institutions designed to ensure peace are losing their influence and the possibility of accident turning to war becomes a frightening possibility. This thoroughly revised and updated new version of ‘Asian Waters’ should therefore be compulsory reading for all those responsible for or concerned about international affairs. Humphrey’s writing is frank, non-partisan and engaging as he crosses cultural divides to elucidate each player’s point of view and shows how, behind the saber rattling, there is still time enough and hope to resolve differences, find accommodations, preserve prosperity and maintain peace.

[Shinabhat Maneerin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was seemingly boring at first, but got more interesting as the venture through the book got deeper.

The book is such a potent combination of academic and journalism; compilation of academic papers complying with first hand experience and valuable insights from competent related parties, civilians who affected from the tension, academics, experts and officials of authorities alike, which provides detailed comprehensive on such scrutinized expansion of China, particularly in the form of naval expansion, and the challenges of which the US-led World Order is currently facing, as well as suggested solution and constructive approach to pursue the opportunity of peaceful and constructive co-existing of related parties and the reorganization and adaptation of the presumably outdated post-World War 2 and Cold War World Order.

[Nigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have given it 5 stars if not for the tendency to make false comparisons between Chinese dictatorship & American imperfection, particularly in the last few chapters. Like the commentary that American freedom of navigation exercises are purposelessly antagonistic to China.... when the fact that those operations are antagonistic is only due to China’s disregard of international law. In fact the last few chapters are complete mush ... but the earlier factual content (the rest of the book) is fantastic & informative.

[Geoff Walling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you could want to know about the South China Sea and Chinese strategy. Easy to read and extremely interesting.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

If it bleeds, it leads. Hawksley's guild needs clicks, views and papers sold, and a few million dead might be a good solution. Never mind the suffering.

[Lawrence Pettener · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Great Wall of the Sea
Review: Asian Waters, by Humphrey Hawksley, Pubs Duckworth Overlook, London 2018

MISCHIEF Reef, anyone? Few have heard of it, or the Spratlys or Paracel Islands, even now; some are just rocks barely visible above water. Why should anyone care?

Since 2011, Napoleon’s prophesied sleeping giant, China, has woken and is moving earth in a literal sense, to build or expand islands militarily in strategic South China Sea locations.

Asian Waters starts with a vignette of Filipino fisherman Jurrick Oson detailing how he stores his catch in an underwater icebox, using lights made from glass coffee jars sealed with tape and glue. He’s been bullied by state-sponsored Chinese thugs with a water cannon in his own country’s waters, and they ruin his livelihood. He’s lucky to survive the attention.

This is the way to write narrative non-fiction: by making it relatable. Start with the micro-picture with its telling details, then pan out to give us an overview. In Asian Waters, this is backed up by insightful news analysis.

With veteran rigour, Hawksley provides a global perspective on how the present situation has unfolded.

Why does China want the Spratlys and Paracel islands? Protection of sovereignty, according to them. Having identified 30 key sea trade routes to protect, it has laid historical claims to some of them – as have Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

One history professor described China’s aim as being “... to build a Great Wall of the sea, with big ships and strong islands”. China’s maritime militia are often fishing crews in the pay of military command; its size is unknown, incalculable. Nor is it always clear hostility, in muddied waters.

With its “salami slicing” strategy – China is chipping away, piecemeal, in backwater situations where no significant powers dare interrupt. It not only builds on barely-extant islands, it erected an illegal drilling rig off Vietnam, for example, which depends on China economically. The pattern is familiar; to quote Sun Tzu: “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting”. The problem is that China is the ultimate guarantor, the underwriter. As China sees it, this is all skillful means.

The surge in China’s authoritative and nationalist outlook under President Xi Jinping means it is set to have the world’s largest naval force by 2020. As US President Donald Trump turns isolationist, flouting established laws and norms, China is handed carte blanche.

There is a global call for China to recognise and abide by international norms but all superpowers have flouted international laws and agreements. There is no single authority to enforce international law; all the major issues still lie deeply buried, unresolved.

Positing ways forward, Hawksley advocates trade negotiations – a hope now being dashed by US trade tariffs. While also damaging US business, the danger remains of Trump, with his unilateral interventions, becoming the proverbial bull in China’s market. World peace may be at stake.

While the West needs to address the situation as it is, China needs to fulfil its promise of enabling us all to be winners.

Suitable for complete beginners, this book is a clear, focused snapshot of international order and relations as they stand today, in shifting tides.


Lawrence Pettener is a writer and editor living in Subang Jaya, Malaysia. This review first appeared in Malaysian national daily The Star in October 2018, alongside LP’s other reviews.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘As Western democracies become more inward-looking, so China is reaching out to sell its message around the world’

Author and BBC foreign correspondent Humphrey Hawksley is a highly visible and influential source of information about international relations. His books include THE THIRD WORLD WAR, MAN ON ICE: RUSSIA VS USA IN ALASKA, DRAGON STRIKE, DEMOCRACY KILLS: WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT THE VOTE, RED SPIRIT, ABSOLUTE MEASURES, CEREMONY OF INNOCENCE, a series of Thrillers, and now ASIAN WATERS. He has written for the Guardian, The Times of London, Financial Times, International Herald-Tribune, and other publications.

As we stand watch on the growing tensions between Asia and the US – both North Korea and China – Humphrey takes the topic in hand and provides a detailed analysis of our relationship with China in particular but also with the entire global presence and future. He has had assignments in the western Pacific and has been afforded the right to observe first hand the signs and symptoms of China’s expansion and its threat to the US and global peace.

The South China Sea touches the needs and the peoples and the governments of South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, gradually usurping the influence of the US in those friendly countries. The significance of this change or extension of influence is making an enormous impact on the relationship between China and the Asia Pacific region and in turn on the US. Humphrey deciphers the impact form all manner of sources he has interviewed or explored – Asian fishermen of the area, the secret planner s China’s victory, politicians in China and in the US as well as influential US military personnel directly related to the area,

The focus is the power struggle, becoming increasingly evident at the moment. Complete with pertinent maps of the areas involved, color photographs of the places and People Humphrey has observed and interviewed for this book, this is one of the more impressive, if unnerving books on the true tenuous lines of relationship between the US and China. Humphrey’s accessible approach to journalism and political insights and research coupled with his on sight observations and knowledge of history make this a book that is not only important to read for all citizens concerned about the future, but as a fine literary piece of work by a very informed man.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid overview of international affairs in the Asia-Pacific. It does spend a bit too much in describing the basics of each country's history and relationships that you'd think anyone interested enough to pick up the book would be well aware of, but equally provides an interesting and humanising look at each as it addresses them.

The only part I'd object to is its conclusion about Westphalia versus "Eastphalia". Hawksley seems to mistake the Westphalian system for western liberal democracy. Considering Westphalia was created as a system of relations between autocratic hereditary monarchs, they are obviously not the same. Yes, the West has mostly transferred to liberal democracy, but there is no theoretical link between the two concepts. Indeed areas where Hawksley points to as failures of the Westphalian system (ie the attempt to transpose liberal democracy into the middle east) are arguably policies that go directly against Westphalian principles.

I agree China does want to modify the prevailing consensus of the West, both in the concept of liberal democracy as the only way to national growth and the Westphalian system as the foundation of international order. But the book does confuse and conflate the issues, which is not helpful.

I'd also like to hear much more about the subtitle, what is the "strategy of Chinese expansion"? We hear plenty about how they want to challenge the existing order, and what they are doing in the SCS. But very little about what the vision of a future rebalanced global order looks like.

But overall an enjoyable and eminently readable book.

[Jefferson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asian Waters: The Struggle over the South China Sea is a book by Humphrey Hawskley that examines the relationships between China and the world. The author goes in depth into how China interacts with places like America, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and East Asia. He finalizes the book by comparing the west and east with each other.

He lays out a possible path for how an acceptance or clash of each culture would occur. The book is rife with the history of China and the places discussed in the context of relations with China. The author put a lot of information into the book, making it a riveting read.

My favorite part of the book was the chapters which focused on Asia more so than the US. You really get to learn a lot about how different the eastern hemisphere’s culture is, and it was really interesting to me. Hawksley takes the reader on an epic journey through history, and it’s surely a trip to remember.

He also takes the time to dissect each relationship through both the perspective of China and the other country he decides to talk about. I found this really helpful for following the story along. The language used was simple and accessible for all ages.

Overall, the book was thoroughly enjoyable and it’s surely a good read for anyone who wants to learn more about China’s relationship with the world theater. I give this book a well-deserved 5 out of 5.

[Michel Van Roozendaal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was there an editor involved? So many mistakes and errors that the whole book (which is at times readable) becomes a question mark. What about the details I don’t immediately recognize as wrong? This might be pedantic, but these mistakes should never reach print; so floppy that it undermines the whole book. Out of the long list; three examples:

Hiroshima nuclear attack: 6 April 1945 (it does start with an A; p148 in my edition)

Being Dutch, this one is also obvious; in the Taiwan section (p202); “Koxingha’s soldiers fought off Dutch merchants trying to get onto China’s coastline”. In reality Koxingha attacked the Dutch on the island of Taiwan (1661) and basically kicked them out from established positions. (Would have been an interesting detail, as this was in some sense the first Chinese European war where the Chinese won).

My favorite (I know, pedantic, but uber stupid in my humble opinion); “about 5 percent of Philippine population, or four million, are Muslim. Most live in Mindanao, where a quarter of the twenty-five million people follow Islam”. Shall I do the calculations? I guess not needed…

These are just three examples of a longer list of obvious mistakes; then there are the ones I miss….

Sorry 😞

[Gabriel Stein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but sloppy

This is an interesting and timely book. Unfortunately, it is also very sloppy written. To give Butt some examples: Taiwan’s National Palace Museum is mentioned as National Museum; the author claims that the United States became independent in 1763 after a 30 year struggle — in fact, it was 1783 and after a seven year war and possibly up to 10 years of total struggle. The author says that Brazil became self-governing in 1815 and became a full Republic in the 1880s. That is true, but it omits to mention that Brazil was an independent country (albeit as an empire) from 1822 onwards. He also claims that Russia seized territory off to the revolution and build up a defence cordon on around its borders. That is rubbish, the Russian Empire lost territorials after the Revolution and the “cordon” around the country was to restrict it, not guard it.

These and other mistakes are a pity, because they make you wonder how much else the author got wrong on topics were at least this reader knows little. And that is why this book only gets three stars instead of the five that a really good book on this fascinating topic would deserve.

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watching the news today finds the subject of this book only dealt with in tangential ways. What lies behind China's role in its trade imbalance with the United States, in its support of North Korea and in its build up of its naval forces is its goal of taking over the lead in the Pacific area from the United States. And as the author points out it is not limited to just that region.
The author starts out with a bit of a history lesson and then moves into more current activities taking place in that region. The history lesson places the current events into a better perspective as they tend to explain the actions taken by the parties involved. Suffice it to say, the author makes the case that China is on the move (and has been) to be active everywhere and to be dominant in the Pacific. After reading the book one comes away with the feeling they are unstoppable and maybe even with armed conflict.
I think this book is a must read in order to broaden ones understanding of China's actions and how they affect world order and particularly our role in it.

[Irfan Muhaimin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geopolitik bersifat amat terbuka dan saling berkait.
Asian Water menjadi satu isu yang agak kritikal terutama keagresifan China terhadap negara serantau termasuk Malaysia. Buku ini menceritakan dari awal kemelut berlaku sehingga sekarang. Laut China | Selatan panas disebabkan China membawa bukti sejarah tentang 9 dash line. Vietnam dan Filipina menjadi manga utama kerakusan ini diikuti Malaysia, Indonesia(Natuna). Kekuatan wang, bahan mentah, intelelektual menjadi faktor utama kejayaan China.
Uniknya Vietnam yang digelar sebagai budak degil.
Berpuluh tahun perang dengan US dan menjadi rakan China tapi hari ini mereka bertukar tempat. Vietnam dilihat agak cerdik bermain dengan arus. India juga terkesan, sejarah sudah menceritakan bagaimana Tibet meniadi "Buffer zone" dan China menyokong Pakistan dalam beberapa is. China meletakkan Sri Lanka sebagai cawangan di Launtan Hindi untuk mengekang India. Ada beberapa krisis lain yang dikira malar segar sesuai dengan krisis di "Asian Water"

[Read Ng · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a GoodReads giveaway of a Kindle ebook.

Very well presented. A lot of complex history and current events to pass onto the reader. Appears to be well researched and comes to some logical conclusions. It does set up greater background regarding current US policies towards China.

Governments have come and gone during the centuries. This makes one wonder just how posed is the new emerging China for the coming era. And it gives me room to pause as to where the US is going and how we should move forward to also meet these new challenges.

This was a GoodReads.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really informative but I just want to read one goddamn book that mentions the Philippines without diminishing US colonization. The United States absolutely did not colonize the Philippines "by accident" and, while I don't agree with Duterte on basically anything, I'm really not interested in his statement that "the Philippines has long ceased to be a colony" being presented as a ridiculous thing to say.

[TS Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting work setting out the current geopolitical outlook emanating from China's occupation of the Spratlys. The author also gives a short chapter on the position for each of the Indo-Pacific country vis-a-vis China's efforts at establishing a ring of influence and forward defence in the region.

[Vimal Chhadva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant book with great insight in china’s centuries of thinking. And similar research on its neighbours explain that the issue of China is an ideological and a historical one with most countries.

Humphrey Hawksley raises a lot of questions and puts a lot of fresh perspective on these issues.
A must read for people who are interested in geopolitics and history.
Brilliant read.

[Mike Slawdog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good basic summary of a major potential flash-point

Disclaimer: I received this book for free as part of Goodreads' Giveaways program.

Overall Hawksley sets out a solid and well-rounded discussion of the South China Sea and Chinese geopolitics in the last decade. This is organized by region/country before concluding with more macro level themes.

Disappointingly the author on numerous occasions seemed to get cardinal directions wrong, which briefly confused me. In general, he also has some weird errors, such as claiming the American Revolution was won in 1763 and referring to China’s “hospital” approach (“hostile” better fit the context). As such, it’s seemingly haphazardly edited. He also waxes nostalgic on some events, such as the U.S. colonization of the Philippines, though strangely he's more attuned to realpolitik on other issues, including ones involving the U.S. and U.K. Lastly, though an updated edition, much of the focus on the text is still circa 2015-2016, so some of it is a little dated. As you'd expect the discussion of more recent happenings tends to be grouped together in a few spots.

Overall it's worth a read of you want to learn about how this major hot spot is developing, how it'll affect the world for the rest of this century, some of the underlying issues, as well as some conjecture on how we could avoid a major war with some logical compromises, should political stars align.

[Faisal Rosli · Rating 4 out of 5]

South China Sea maritime had always been my interest. The book explains a lot from the lens of Filipino fisherman and the rise of its current president. The South China Sea will continue to become dispute ASEAN and China and it will draw superpowers like USA and neighboring Australia in this new cold-war.

[Mai]

okay so it’s pretty comprehensive on key events and historics on SCS

not sure what the purpose of this book was but err on the side of caution when reading given author’s background, biased language and overall narrative. imo should not be inserted blindly in academia nor analysis but okay for foundational knowledge if SCS claimants and countries in AOR

took everything with a grain of salt

[Sunny Flynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have given this book 3 stars if it wasn't for the grammatical/ publishing errors.

The comprehensive analysis of the political/ historical tensions between the countries was interesting and thought provoking.

[Marcus Goncalves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent work on the struggles over the South China Sea examining the relationships between China and the world, and a comprehensive analysis of global politics and how the superpowers are positioning themselves in the wake of universal conflicts.