The South China Sea disputes involve both island and maritime claims among several sovereign states within the region, namely the Nation of Brunei, the Peoples Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), Malaysia, the Republic of the Philippines, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Non claimants want the South China Sea to remain as international waters, with the United States of America conducting freedom of  navigation.

There are disputes concerning both the Spratly and the Paracel islands, as well as maritime, areas near to sea, boundaries in the Gulf of Tonkin and elsewhere. There is a further dispute in the waters near the Indonesian Natuna Islands. The interests of different nations include acquiring fishing areas around the two archipelagos; the potential exploitation of crude oiland natural gas under the waters of various parts of the South China Sea, and the strategic control of important shipping lanes.

The Shangri La Dialogue serves as the  Track One  exchange forum on security issues surrounding the Asia-Pacific region, including territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific is the Track Two  forum for dialogue on security issues.

In July 2016, an arbitral tribunal constituted under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ruled against China's maritime claims in Philippines v. China, although it is not enforceable. China does not acknowledge the tribunal nor abide by its ruling, insisting that any resolution should be through bilateral negotiations with other claimants.