U.S.-China conflict-prone competition in the South China sea and its reflections to bilateral relations

This study analyzes the conflict-prone competition between the U.S. and China in the South China Sea and its reflections on bilateral relations. Recently, increasing interest in the South China Sea has also affected the rivalry between the U.S. and China in particular and has caused tensions to rise in the region from time to time. The aim of this study is to reveal the conflict-prone competition between these two states and the role of the parties in this competition. In the first part of the study, the reasons why the South China Sea is important for China and the U.S.; in the second part, foreign policies of the U.S. and China towards the region and their activities accordingly; and in the last section of the study, the areas of conflict-prone competition due to the conflicting interests of the U.S. and China in the region were analyzed. This study has been examined by carrying out an objective and scientific literature review and a discourse analysis on the speeches of authorities on this subject. In addition, due to the fact of the subject of the study being current, news about this particular topic were pursued and the effects of the current developments on the subject of the study were examined. As a result of the study, it was concluded that the differences of perception between the U.S. and China towards the region had an impact on the two states policies of the region and on their perceptions of each other. It was also concluded that the competition between the two states in the South China Sea and the tension problem that arose as a result of this competition is actually a multi-factor problem and therefore the problem cannot be overcome by just an upcoming solution between the USA and China alone.