This project will attempt to fill the research gap in the current policy debates and studies on the South China Sea disputes by examining marine environmental protection in this contested strategic sealane based on the existing literature and discussions. This project will explore the norms of marine environmental protection and regional cooperation as applied to the South China Sea. It will also highlight the importance of marine environmental protection as a shared responsibility of claimant states, ASEAN and relevant Dialogue Partners (e.g. Japan, China, the U.S., and Australia). It will explore the prospects of regional cooperation on marine environmental cooperation in the South China Sea and identify key issues that may hinder regional cooperation. It will likewise explore the applicability of current international environmental laws and conventions to the South China Sea, and how they can complement regional initiatives to protect the marine ecosystem in the disputed waters.