China’s activities in the South China Sea, which includes building up artificial islands and developing military facilities on them, has national security implications as well as consequences for ocean shipping.  An estimated $5 trillion in cargo passes through the South China Sea every year by ship. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam have all also articulated claims to parts of the area in dispute.

For the last year the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, has been shining a light on developments and issues in the region.