John Rennie Short, professor emeritus of public policy, UMBC

The South China Sea has long been a bubbling geopolitical hot spot. Recently, a series of moves by the various nations claiming a stake in the waters has stirred up yet more trouble.

Malaysia has of late reaffirmed its commitment to oil and gas exploration in waters claimed by China while quietly building up its military on the islands off Borneo.

Meanwhile, Chinese coast guard vessels have deployed water cannons against Filipino fishing boats. And the accidental grounding of a Chinese boat in shallow waters around the Philippines’ Thitu Island on June 8, 2025, was enough to put Filipino forces on alert.

Vietnam, too, has been active in the disputed waters. A Beijing-based think tank on June 7 flagged that Vietnamese engineers had been busy reclaiming land and installing military-related ports and airstrips around the Spratly Islands.

What the three Southeast Asian nations of Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia have in common is that they, along with others in the region, are trying to navigate a more assertive China at a time when the U.S. policy intentions under the second Trump Administration are fluid and hard to read. And in lieu of a coordinated response from the regional body Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, each member nation has been busy charting its course in these choppy waters.

US-China relations all at sea

Why is China trying to assert control in the South China Sea? In a 2023 speech, President Xi Jinping noted that “Western countries led by the United States have implemented all round containment, encirclement and suppression of China.”

This fear has been long held in Beijing and was reinforced by a U.S. Indo-Pacific policy announced in 2011 of rebalancing military forces away from Europe and toward Asia to confront China.

In response, China has in recent years embarked on an ambitious policy of attempting to outmuscle U.S. naval power in the South China Sea.

China is now the world’s leading builder of naval vessels and is estimated to have 440 battleships by 2030, compared with the United States’ 300.

And it comes at a time when U.S. naval power is spread around the world. China’s, meanwhile, is concentrated around the South China Sea where, since 2013, Chinese vessels have pumped sand onto reefs, turning them into islands and then weaponizing them.

Then there is the activity of China’s maritime militia of approximately 300 nominally fishing boats equipped with water cannons and reinforced hulls for ramming. This so-called gray zone fleet is increasingly active in confronting Southeast Asia nations at sea.

The U.S. response to China’s militarization in the sea has been through so-called “freedom of navigation” exercises that often deploy carrier groups in a show of force. But these episodic displays are more performative than effective, doing little to deter China’s claims.

The U.S. has also strengthened military alliances with Australia, India, Japan and the Philippines, and has increased coast guard cooperation with the Philippines and Japan.

The South China Sea is a valuable resource

Yet the battle over control of the South China Seas is more than just geopolitical posturing between the two superpowers.

For adjoining countries, the sea is a valuable biological resource with rich fishing grounds that provide a staple of fish protein for close to 2 billion people. There are estimates of 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 11 billion barrels of oil.

The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, guarantees a nation an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles from around its coastline.

China is a signatory of the UNCLOS. Yet it views ownership of the South China Sea through the lens of its nine-dash line, a reference to the boundary line that Beijing has invoked since 1948. While the claim has no legal or historical basis, the delineation makes major incursions into waters around Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia and, to a lesser extent, Brunei and Indonesia as well.

Despite China’s expansive claim to the South China Sea being dismissed in 2016 by the international Permanent Court of Arbitration, Beijing continues to assert its claim.

Hedging positions

As I explore in my recent book “Hedging and Conflict in the South China Sea,” part of the problem Southeast Asian nations face is that they have failed to forge a unified position.

ASEAN, the regional bloc representing 10 nations in Southeast Asia, has long been governed by the principle that major decisions need unanimous agreement. China is a major trading partner to ASEAN nations, so any regional country aligning too close to the U.S. comes with the real risk of economic consequences. And two ASEAN members, Cambodia and Laos, are especially close to China, making it difficult to generate a unified ASEAN policy that confronts China’s maritime claim.

Instead, ASEAN has promoted a regional code of conduct that effectively legitimizes China’s maritime claims, fails to mention the 2016 ruling and ignores the issue of conflicting claims.

Further complicating a united front against China is the competing claims among ASEAN nations themselves to disputed islands in the South China Sea.

In lieu of a coordinated response, Southeast Asian nations have instead turned to hedging — that is, maintaining good relationships with both China and the U.S. without fully committing to one or other.

A balancing act for Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines

Malaysia’s approach sees its government partition off the South China Sea dispute from its overall bilateral ties with China while continuing to promote an ASEAN code of conduct.

Until recently, Malaysia’s oil and gas activities were well within Malaysia’s EEZ and not far enough out to fall into China’s nine-dash claim.

But as these close-to-shore fields become exhausted, subsequent exploration will need to extend outward and into China’s nine-dash claim, putting Malaysia’s dealings with China under pressure.

China’s nine-dash line claims a significant amount of Vietnam’s EEZ, and the contested maritime area is a source of friction between the two countries; China’s maritime militia regularly harasses Vietnamese fishermen and disrupts drilling operations in Vietnam’s EEZ .

But Vietnam has to tread carefully. China plays a significant role in the Vietnamese economy as a major destination of exports and an important provider of foreign investment. China also has the ability to dam the Mekong River upstream of Vietnam — something that would disrupt agricultural production.

As a result, Vietnam’s hedging involves a careful calibration to avoid angering China. However, part of Vietnam’s heavy hedging involves the promotion of the South China Sea dispute as a core issue for domestic public opinion, which limits the Vietnamese government’s ability to offer concessions to China.

China’s nine-dash claim also includes a wide swath of the Philippines’ EEZ.

The Philippines has zigzagged in its dealings with China. The presidencies of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2001–2010) and Rodrigo Duterte (2016-2022) pursued a pro-China tack that downplayed Filipino claims in the South China Sea. Presidents Benigno Aquino (2010-2016) and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (2022-present), in contrast, have given U.S. forces greater access to its maritime bases and mobilized national and international opinion in favor of its claims.

Since coming to power, Marcos has also pursued even closer naval ties with the U.S.. But this has come at a cost: China now views the Philippines as a U.S. ally. As such, Beijing sees little to be gained by pulling back from its assertive activity in and around its waters.

The future

In the shadow of two major powers battling for power in the South China Sea, Southeast Asian nations are making the best of their position along a geopolitical fracture line by advancing their claims and interests while not overly antagonizing a more assertive China or losing the support of the U.S.

This may work to tamp down tensions in the South China Sea. But it is a fluid approach not without risk, and it could yet prove to be another source of instability in a geopolitically contested and dangerous region.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article and see more than 250 UMBC articles available in The Conversation.

From June 5 – 8, UMBC hosted leading scientific researchers for a series of meetings on the science of the brain—often said to be the least understood organ in the human body. The proceedings began with a meeting of the industry advisory board for the Building Reliable Advances and Innovations in Neurotechnology (BRAIN) Center, of which UMBC is a site. Ramana Vinjamuri, associate professor of computer science and electrical engineering, directs UMBC’s participation in the center and played a key role in organizing the meeting, which brought industry, government, and academic researchers together to discuss the latest advancements in developing safe, effective and affordable personalized neurotechnologies to diagnose, restore or enhance brain and nervous system functions. Immediately following, the Movement, Music, and Brain Health National Science Foundation (NSF) AccelNet Meeting showcased how tools such as AI, mobile brain-body imaging and brain-computer interfaces could advance investigations into how music and dance promote cognitive function and well-being.

On the Friday evening of June 6, visually compelling performances in the UMBC Fine Arts Recital Hall merged science and art. Musicians and dancers wearing sensors to monitor their brain waves and vital signs such as heartbeat treated the audience to performances of flamenco dancing, mariachi music, interpretive dance, and classical piano. A UMBC team presented the imagined interactions of a human and a humanoid robot—exploring how the two could move together and expressing the emotions that might arise from the interaction. The team comprised faculty members Vinjamuri; Andrea Kleinsmith, information systems, and Ann Sofie Clemmensen, dance; computer science and human-centered computing students Parthan Olikkal, Oritsejolomisan Mebaghanje, Viraj Janeja, Sruthi Sundharram, and Golnaz Moharrer; and UMBC graduates Sarah McHale ’24, dance, and Juju Ayoub ’25, dance.

June 6 art-science research performances, from left to right: Dr. Mei Rui on the piano, interdisciplinary artist Gabriela Estrada performs a one-woman dance “No more Carmens!” and a member of the group Mariachi Sana Sana plays the violin. Below, UMBC graduates Juju Ayoub ’25, dance, and Sarah McHale ’24, dance, get ready to perform a demo of a VR dance experience, while computer science Ph.D. student Parthan Olikkal sets up equipment. (Photos by Kiirstn Pagan ’11)

Fostering collaboration to accelerate innovation 

UMBC joined the BRAIN Center in 2024. As an Industry–University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC), it brings academic researchers across multiple institutions together with industry partners to conduct research of interest to those partners. Vinjamuri’s lab has partnered with industry and other research centers on projects such as detecting deception in brain waves, developing new tools for managing and treating substance abuse, and reducing stress through interaction with robots and virtual tools. 

This was the first time that the BRAIN Center meeting was held in conjunction with an AccelNet meeting, part of the NSF’s efforts to tackle grand research challenges through coordinated international efforts. This meeting focused on better understanding how music and movement are linked to brain health. 

Attendees of the BRAIN Center IAB meeting pose for a group photo (left) and mingle at a poster session. (Photos by Catherine Meyers and Ramana Vinjamuri)

The twin meetings were an extra draw, and brought in close to 300 attendees, says Vinjamuri, including program directors from the NSF and FDA.

“We brought some of the world’s top researchers to UMBC, where we could showcase our labs and discuss opportunities to collaborate,” he says. “There was lots of shared interest and fruitful discussions.” 

The conferences were an interdisciplinary affair, with experts in fields such as computer science, mechanical engineering, dance, music and the arts all mingling.

“These event would not be possible without the support and participation of UMBC leadership, the BRAIN Center, and fellow site directors,” said Vinjamuri. “So many people, from across UMBC and our collaborating institutions, in the U.S. and around the world, came together to make the events a success and I am deeply grateful to them all.”

“For a conference like this, I get to wear both of my hats, advocating for both research and creative achievement,” said Karl Steiner, UMBC’s vice president for research and creative achievement, in opening remarks. “We entered these partnerships to improve human life. It’s truly a privilege and a motivation to focus on that joint mission.”

These events were sponsored by the NSF IUCRC Program, the BRAIN Center, UMBC College of Engineering and Information Technology, and bwtech.

Summer break is the perfect time to recharge — but it’s also a golden opportunity to invest in yourself. Whether you’re a graduate student working through coursework or heading into your final year, using the summer months to build skills can help you feel more confident and career-ready when you return to campus.

Here are a few ways to use your summer wisely:

1. Learn Something New (at Your Own Pace)

Just because class is out doesn’t mean learning has to stop. Try taking a free or low-cost online course to explore a new skill or deepen one you already have.

• Interested in coding? Check out the UMBC Training Centers’ courses on programming and software development.
• Want to improve your data skills? Explore LinkedIn Learning or Coursera.
• Thinking about graduate school? Practice GRE vocabulary or sample problems.

Even committing just a few hours a week can make a noticeable difference.

2. Volunteer or Freelance

Giving back is a great way to gain real-world experience — plus, it looks great on a resume. Find a nonprofit, community group, or campus department where you can offer your help. You can also explore small freelance projects to build your portfolio — especially if you're in writing, design, or tech. Check out the Forage’s job simulations as another way to build skills that replicate real work in the field.

3. Work on a Personal Project

Have a passion you’ve been putting off? Now’s your time. Create a blog, design an app, start a podcast, or build something hands-on. Employers love to see initiative and creativity—especially when you can explain the “why” behind your work.

4. Update Your Materials

Use this time to refresh your resume, update your LinkedIn profile, and complete your Handshake profile. Add new experiences, clean up formatting, and make sure your materials reflect the kind of opportunities you want moving forward. Depending on the roles you are applying for, you may also want to consider create separate resumes to better match job positions.

5. Reflect and Plan

Summer is a great time to take a step back and reflect on your goals. What did you learn last semester? What kind of work excites you? Where do you want to grow? Journaling or creating a simple vision board can help you stay focused and intentional about the year ahead. And should something change during the academic year, it’s ok to continue to hone and revise your career plan as needed.

Looking for Summer Career Inspiration?

Check out the UMBC Career Center’s podcast, "UMBC Careers Unleashed — featuring real stories, tips, and advice from the Career Center’s staff and UMBC students. It’s perfect for a walk, commute, or summer chill session.

Listen here and get inspired to make this summer your most strategic one yet. And if you need help kicking off your plans, the Career Center is open during the summer with drop-ins and 1:1 virtual and in-person appointments.

You've got time — and you’ve got options. Let summer be your launchpad, and good luck!