Implications of USA-China Clashing Interests in The Asia Pacific Region on International Peace and Security: Reflections of The South China Sea Dispute from 2012 to 2022

Asia Pacific region has become a region of strategic importance for both the United States of America (USA) and People’ Republic of China. As a result renewed interests have emerged. Both countries are actively competing for natural resources especially oil, for political and tactical influence as well as to ensure they expand their interests. These increased interests have reduced the Asia Pacific region to become a battleground for power and influence hence negatively affecting the presence of peace and security. This current situation has disposed the Asia Pacific region to become a center-piece for rivalry and is a region at risk of great power competition. Tensions between the US and China have created conditions of aggressive, assertive and revisionist tendencies. This has generated insecurities among countries in the Asia Pacific region. The South China Sea now presents an arena in which the US and China can show-case their power. The South China Sea is moving from being a marginal area to become the epicenter of US-China relations, this might affect peace and security in the region because these two major powers are prepared to go to war so as to safeguard their interests in the South China Sea. This paper provides an analysis of the implications of US-China interests in the Asia Pacific region on peace and security. The article examined the case of the South China Sea Dispute. This paper recommends that the US and China should locate areas of mutual interests and focus on collective interests which assures a peaceful and secure Asia Pacific region. The US and China should manage their relations with focus of creating a stable and conducive Asia Pacific region, through mutual respect and understanding.