If controlling the seas is a direct reflection of the leverage and hierarchy of a country in the international community, then the South China Sea is the epicenter of an emerging maritime regime. Here, nation-states (regional and extra-regional), non-state actors and international governmental organizations attempt to determine the rules of maritime trade.

While all players have the common goal of establishing enduring influence over this strategically significant sea, most have diverging views on what constitutes as a ‘threat’ to maritime trade. This review of literature highlights the common themes explored in existing research work on maritime security in the South China Sea