Regime Creation for the South China Sea Dispute: the Feasibility of the Creation of the South China Sea Council

Abstract

This article explores the feasibility of creating a regime for the benefit of managing and resolving the South China Sea dispute in accordance with an analysis of a strand of thought in political science (institutional liberalism). The South China Sea is closer to a non-regime situation; however, the relevant circumstance of the region is ripe enough to discuss regime creation. This article shows how regime creation is feasible and beneficial to the claimants, not least China (the most important player), as opposed to the conventional wisdom among Chinese elites regarding the danger of the internationalization of the dispute. The establishment of a soft-law maritime regime (the “South China Sea Council”) and its operational particularity are suggested with reference to the Arctic Council.