Campaigns And Drones: Maritime Security In The South China Sea

The United States Navy remains active in the South China Sea, conducting operations to uphold the freedom of global commerce and navigation. This effort counters the People's Republic of China's expansive maritime campaign, which seeks to assert territorial control over the region by constructing artificial islands. Despite the South China Sea being part of the international commons, Beijing continues to militarize these islands, deploying naval forces while its Coast Guard harasses civilian vessels from neighboring states, particularly the Philippines. While diplomatic solutions remain possible, any attack on the Philippines would trigger a U.S. response under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between Washington and Manila.