Britain’s South China Sea Policy in the Early 1990s: Evidence from Foreign and Commonwealth Office Archives

Abstract

After the end of the Cold War, the geopolitical landscape of the South China Sea underwent significant changes. During this period, China preferred to resolve the disputes through negotiation and consultation, while Vietnam, the Philippines, and others continued to reinforce their so-called sovereignty claims over the Spratly Islands through various means. The United Kingdom maintained a generally low profile on the issue but showed internal caution toward China’s growing influence. As a signatory to the Five Power Defence Arrangements, Britain believed that any military friction in the South China Sea might implicate its own security interests. Consequently, it refrained from supporting any party’s territorial claims, yet frequently declared that it was “justified in urging all claimant states to settle their differences through negotiation and to cooperate in the fair and peaceful development of resources.” In assessing the regional security situation, British officials contended that China’s military buildup could provoke an arms race among neighboring states and worsen regional tensions. To preserve its influence in the Asia-Pacific, Britain thus remained watchful of China’s expanding presence in the South China Sea.