U.S. Naval Institute
Project Title
For examining the strategic concept of maritime insurgency and counterinsurgency
Date
Mar. 10, 2022
Duration
68 months
Description
The South China Sea today is the site of conflicting legal regimes between two competing visions of maritime sovereignty. According to some expert analysis, the Chinese challenge constitutes a maritime insurgency that requires the United States and its allies to develop and implement a strategy of “maritime counterinsurgency” (“Maritime COIN”). This strategy would be designed to effectively protect civilians, preserve peace in the Indo-Pacific, and thereby defend freedom of navigation more broadly. This project at the U.S. Naval Institute will bring together thought leaders in the U.S. and allied maritime strategy communities to advance thinking on how Maritime COIN can be operationalized and assessed. Project findings will be shared with U.S naval officials, Congress, and other relevant government agencies.