Abstract
Current territorial and maritime jurisdiction disputes in the South China Sea are the major irritant in relations between China and the claimant states of Southeast Asia—Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. All four claimant states are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Since ASEAN was founded in 1967, it has sought to preserve Southeast Asia’s autonomy from interference by outside powers. At the same time, ASEAN has sought to assert its centrality in regional security affairs. South China Sea disputes have proven to be a particularly vexing obstacle to the attainment of these objectives. ASEAN has had difficulty reaching consensus among its diverse members on a unified South China Sea policy. ASEAN also has had difficulty asserting its centrality in dealing with China. China claims “indisputable sovereignty” over most of the South China Sea, and insists that these disputes be settled bilaterally by the countries directly concerned. This has created dynamic tensions in ASEAN-China relations.
 
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