Changing Course: U.S. Policy in the South China Sea

The sixth installment of the Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China, on the impact shifting U.S. policy will have on the South China Sea. Featuring Rear Admiral Stephen Koehler of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the second-highest-ranking U.S. military official in the Pacific.
No longer is the United States officially neutral on the issue of the South China Sea. July saw a raft of statements from the United States rejecting China’s “historical rights” claim to the region and reaffirming The Hague’s 2016 tribunal ruling in favor of the Philippines. Southeast Asian nations, many of which similarly stake dubious claims to the region, have quietly welcomed the official change in policy. Though they also worry about the instability threatened by an increasingly tense U.S.-China relationship. This discussion explores the impact shifting U.S. policy will have on South China Sea claimant nations as well as China’s approach to the resource-rich region.
The Edgerton Series on Responding to a Rising China aims to provide proactive and forward-looking solutions to some of the most complex local, regional, and global issues facing the United States and China today, through regular engagement in debates and discussions with the foremost experts in Chinese affairs. The Edgerton Series is made possible by generous support from the Edgerton Foundation. We thank Dr. Bradford and Ms. Louise Edgerton for their continued support of and dedication to the Pacific Council.
Featuring:
Rear Admiral Stephen Koehler, Director of Operations, J3, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command/ Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (In Transit)
Rear Admiral Koehler commanded the Pukin’ Dogs of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143, USS Bataan (LHD 5), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), and Carrier Strike Group Nine. His additional assignments at sea include tours in Fighter Squadron (VF) 211, VF-41, executive officer aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). During his operational tours, he supported Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve, and Freedom’s Sentinel in support of contingency operations in the Middle East, Operation Deliberate Guard in support of stabilization efforts in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Operation Unified Protector in support of contingency operations Libya, and Operation Unified Response which provided emergency disaster relief to Haiti.
Bonnie S. Glaser, Senior Adviser for Asia; Director, China Power Project, CSIS
Bonnie S. Glaser is a senior adviser for Asia and the director of the China Power Project as CSIS, where she works on issues related to Asia-Pacific security with a focus on Chinese foreign and security policy. She is concomitantly a nonresident fellow with the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia, and a senior associate with the Pacific Forum.
Moderator:
Alexandre Moore, Senior Programs Officer, Pacific Council on International Policy
Alexandre Moore researches and monitors shifts in foreign policy, oversees the logistical and operational elements of events and recruits U.S. and foreign diplomats, military officials, and experts to meet with the Council.