Gregory B. Poling, Senior Fellow for Southeast Asia and Director, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Gregory B. Poling directs the Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. He is a leading expert on the South China Sea disputes and conducts research on US alliances and partnerships, democratization and governance in Southeast Asia, and maritime security across the Indo-Pacific. He is the author or coauthor of works on the South China Sea and US relations with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Southeast Asia at large. His writings have been featured in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, The Wall Street Journal, and the Naval War College Review, among others.

"The book provides a very illuminating and useful account of the discussions, arguments, and occasional public shouting matches over the meaning of the Mutual Defence Treaty between the US and the Philippines." - Bill Hayton, Asian Affairs

"Poling's book provides an interesting historical read and an essential text for understanding a key zone of international conflict." - Walter Clemens, New York Journal of Books

"Greg Poling has written a book that anyone serious about understanding the background, status and implications of the South China Sea dispute will need to read carefully and retain for further reference." - Robert Sutter, Contemporary Southeast Asia

"This is a fundamental book for understanding one of the most salient issues roiling relations between China, its neighbors to the south and east, and the United States." - Walter Clemens, Harvard University, New York Journal of Books

"Excellent, timely, and needed. A must-read if you care about the South China Sea—its history, why it matters, and how the U.S. and the PRC could come to blows over it." - Admiral Harry Harris (Retired), 24th Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea

"Gregory Poling's in-depth, incisive, masterful and comprehensive historical analysis of the evolving interests of various parties in the South China Sea especially the United States are truly amazing. The book is a must-read for all foreign policy-makers, practitioners, decision-makers, geo-political analysts, and students who are engaged, learning and trying to understand the complex South China Sea." - Ambassador Albert del Rosario, Former Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs

"In this lively, lucid, and deeply researched book, Poling has written the definitive account of how the United States became involved in the South China Sea and how its policy has evolved over the past century. Anyone interested in the past, present, or future of these disputed waters should read this book— a terrific contribution to the literature." - M. Taylor Fravel, Arthur and Ruth Sloan Professor of Political Science and Director of the Security Studies Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology