Author: Bill Hayton

China’s rise has upset the global balance of power, and the first place to feel the strain is Beijing’s back in the South China Sea.
In this book, Bill Hayton lays out the daunting obstacles that stand in the way of peaceful resolution over the territory.
Through lively stories of individuals who have shaped current conflicts — businessmen, scientists, shippers, archaeologists, soldiers, and diplomats — Hayton narrates the complex history and contemporary reality of the South China Sea.
He underscores its crucial importance as the passageway for half the world’s merchant shipping and one-third of its oil and gas.
Whoever controls these waters controls the access between Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and the Pacific.
The author discusses what might be the future of this clamorous region of international rivalry.