The Transformative Role of the European Union in the South China Sea: Alternative Conflict Resolution Mechanisms Through Regional Integration

With its important geostrategic location, valuable marine resources and rich hydrocarbon deposits, the South China Sea has become the epicenter of many ongoing territorial and maritime conflicts. The European Union (EU) also has vital interests and potential key roles in this region. In this article, the conflicttransforming roles that the EU can play in the South China Sea conflict are analyzed within the framework of conditionality policy, social learning and modelsetting effect. In the study, firstly, a summary of the geographical and historical background of the South China Sea conflict is presented. Afterwards, the roles that the EU can play in this conflict are evaluated by considering alternative conflict resolution mechanisms that it can use through regional integration and its interests in the region.