Rough Waters in the South China Sea: A Conversation with Greg Poling

By: Bonnie S. Glaser

This episode examines the behavior of China and other claimants in the South China Sea, including recent incidents between China and the Philippines and between China and Vietnam. Our guest, Mr. Greg Poling, analyzes the reactions of the Chinese, Philippines, and Vietnamese governments in light of recent conflicts. He also explains the purpose behind the presence of China’s maritime militia in the South China Sea, as well as the likelihood that a Code of Conduct will be signed between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the next few years.

Mr. Greg Poling is director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative and a fellow with the Southeast Asia Program at CSIS. He oversees research on US foreign policy in the Asia Pacific, with a particular focus on the maritime domain and the countries of Southeast Asia. His research interests include the South China Sea disputes, democratization in Southeast Asia, and Asian multilateralism.