Imam Hossein University American Strategic Studies 2821-0247 4 4 2025 02 19 The U.S. Strategic Policy to Prevent China's Rise in the South China Sea The U.S. Strategic Policy to Prevent China's Rise in the South China Sea 107 136 209672 10.47176/asr.2025.1213 FA Hamid Dorj Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran 0000-0003-3343-9485 Journal Article 2024 04 20 The South China Sea holds strategic importance in U.S. foreign policy in East Asia. China's economic growth and, consequently, the strengthening of its military capabilities—particularly its navy—and the activities of this force in the South China Sea have raised concerns among coastal states and the United States about Beijing’s dominance in the region. This issue has led to Washington’s intervention and extensive presence in East Asia under the pretext of supporting freedom of navigation operations, but in reality, to curb China's rising influence and create a balance against it in the region. Therefore, the main question of this research is: What policy does the U.S. pursue to prevent China's rise in the South China Sea? The article’s hypothesis is that since China's increasing economic and military power, and consequently its expanding regional influence in the South China Sea, is considered a strategic threat to coastal countries and the United States, Washington has sought to counterbalance China's growing power in the region by expanding its presence and forming alliances with coastal states in the South China Sea. This approach, in addition to preventing China’s increasing power in the region, can also curb Beijing’s hegemony and dominance over the waters of East Asia. The research data has been analyzed using a qualitative analysis method. This study is qualitative in nature and based on a descriptive-analytical approach, while information has been collected through library research. The South China Sea holds strategic importance in U.S. foreign policy in East Asia. China's economic growth and, consequently, the strengthening of its military capabilities—particularly its navy—and the activities of this force in the South China Sea have raised concerns among coastal states and the United States about Beijing’s dominance in the region. This issue has led to Washington’s intervention and extensive presence in East Asia under the pretext of supporting freedom of navigation operations, but in reality, to curb China's rising influence and create a balance against it in the region. Therefore, the main question of this research is: What policy does the U.S. pursue to prevent China's rise in the South China Sea? The article’s hypothesis is that since China's increasing economic and military power, and consequently its expanding regional influence in the South China Sea, is considered a strategic threat to coastal countries and the United States, Washington has sought to counterbalance China's growing power in the region by expanding its presence and forming alliances with coastal states in the South China Sea. This approach, in addition to preventing China’s increasing power in the region, can also curb Beijing’s hegemony and dominance over the waters of East Asia. The research data has been analyzed using a qualitative analysis method. This study is qualitative in nature and based on a descriptive-analytical approach, while information has been collected through library research. https://asr.ihu.ac.ir/article_209672_0203b6286fe6ceb9e4e950faed950d8a.pdf