Download or read book The Spratly Island Dispute and U.S. National Security Interests written by Carlos S. Badger and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 20 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The South China Sea is a major maritime route connecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Disputes have risen among several countries which have made conflicting claims to the islands and waters of the South China Sea. Among the disputed island claims are the Spratly Islands which are claimed in whole or part by Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Brunei. China (PRC), whose emerging leadership is under pressure to continue economic growth, is the principal threat and claims all of the disputed islands and most of the South China Sea basin. The Spratly Islands dispute has importance to U.S. national security interests because it has become the key focus for claims in the South China Sea. This paper will describe what the Spratly Islands dispute is about and how might its resolution affect U.S. national security interests.