Author: Lyle Morris

Lyle J. Morris is a senior policy analyst at the RAND Corporation, where he focuses on security developments in East and Southeast Asia. He has over ten years of experience researching and leading projects on Asia-Pacific security issues and has published recently on maritime security in the Asia-Pacific, U.S. maritime security capacity building in Southeast Asia, Chinese military modernization, and Chinese engagement in Africa. His articles have appeared in Asia Policy, The Diplomat, The National Interest, The China Brief, Aviation Week & Space Technology, Asia Pacific Bulletin, and U.S. News and World Report.

The Era of Coast Guards in the Asia Pacific is Upon Us

On its face, having coast guards patrol large bodies of disputed territory might be cause for optimism. But the way coast guards are employed in the South China Sea as blunt instruments to assert state power gives more cause for concern than optimism.