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This article is written in the background of the growing Sino-US rivalry in the SCS dispute. It discusses the political, military, and economic initiatives of these countries to save their interests in the region. The South China Sea has become the center of Asia Pacific politics in specific and global politics in general. Its geostrategic importance and huge resources have attracted the attention of world powers in this region. China, the regional hegemon, claims the SCS region as its core interest and provides the basis to its claims based on historical usage and a part of the ancient Chinese dynasties. Though the US is a non-resident state in this dispute its defense relations with other claimant states, its long-term interests in this region, and increasing political and military rivalry with emerging superpower China, all these factors have forced the US to play a significant role in this dispute. This research tries to find out the answer to the research puzzle about the factors behind the growing rivalry between the US and China in the SCS. The research has employed qualitative methodology within the post-positivist paradigm. The study is conducted under the lens of Hegemonic Stability Theory. This study concludes that the prevailing situation in the SCS would further get hot if either side behaves assertively to secure interests in the region. The conclusion suggests that peace could only be achieved if both countries show patience and solve this issue through multilateral negotiations.