US-China clash of civilisations is being played out in the South China Sea

The struggle between the US and China for control of the South China Sea is symptomatic of a much deeper “clash of civilisations”. According to Samuel Huntington, the originator of this theory, human conflict has transitioned to a new phase in which formerly dominated, abused and exploited cultures and nations of the non-Western world have increasingly become significant players in shaping the international order. The Sinic culture led by China is prominent among them. This possibly existential contest between it and the West – led by the US – is being played out in the South China Sea.

Indeed, their face-off is a stark contrast of political and economic systems and their underpinning raison d’etre. The outcome of this clash of cultures and self-images is important. It is why the competition between the two in general, and in the South China Sea in particular, is being so carefully watched by those likely to be directly and immediately affected.

The US-China hard and soft power confrontation in the South China Sea is driven by a fundamental disconnect, in that they both see themselves as “exceptional” nations that have the “heaven-sent” mission to lead humanity. Each considers it their right and destiny to dominate and shape the international order to fit their needs.

As such, they boldly interpret international norms and rules, like the law of the sea, in a way that furthers their national interest. As prominent American strategic thinker Graham Allison puts it, to China, the rules-based international order is an “order in which America makes the rules and others obey the orders”. For both, the existing international norms and rules do not apply if their observance would thwart the pursuit of their national interest.

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