The South China Sea is perhaps one of the most contentious areas of the world. It is the subject of numerous ongoing disputes between the littoral states, including the People’s Republic of China, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Malaysia, the Republic of Indonesia, and the Kingdom of Brunei Darussalam. The maritime disputes in the South China Sea have led to increased tensions in the region, and have the potential to spark further destabilization.
The history of the conflict goes back to the late 1940s and 1950s, when Britain and other Western nations began to draw maps of the South China Sea region in order to facilitate navigation. These maps often excluded features that were considered politically or militarily sensitive. This, in turn, created a conflict over who had the right to claim certain features in the South China Sea.
The Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands are two of the most contentious areas in the South China Sea. In 1956, the Republic of China (ROC), now Taiwan, began to lay claim to the Paracel Islands and to the Spratly Islands in 1958. In 1974, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) occupied the Paracel Islands and has since declared them to be its southernmost province. Vietnam has also laid claim to the Paracels, while other states have laid claim to various features in the Spratly Islands.
The situation has been further complicated by the fact that several countries, including the PRC, Vietnam and the Philippines, have laid claim to the right to exploit and/or explore for hydrocarbon deposits under the seabed. China’s claims to the South China Sea have been rejected by an international tribunal in a landmark ruling in July 2016 and China has since rejected the ruling and continued to assert its claim over the area.
The potential resources of the South China Sea and the presence of numerous competing claims, increases the likelihood of further military confrontation in the region. According to the Congressional Research Service, potential resources in the South China Sea include fish stocks, hydrocarbon deposits, and valuable minerals such as sulfur, copper and phosphate. In addition, the region has immense geostrategic value and is an important shipping route for countries in the region.
The United States has been increasingly active in the region in recent years. It has deployed ships, planes and personnel to the area and conducted exercises with regional allies. The US has also criticized China’s aggressive enhanced activities, including land reclamation, island building and militarization of disputed features in the South China Sea.
The South China Sea dispute is likely to remain unresolved in the near future. The countries involved have repeatedly failed to reach an agreement and there is a lack of political will to resolve the dispute. It is therefore essential for the countries involved to address the political, economic and security concerns in a manner which can bring about a lasting peace in the South China Sea.
China’s Claims In The South China Sea
The South China Sea has long been a source of dispute and tension in the region between the states bordering the sea, and the People’s Republic of China has been one of the most active claimants to maritime features therein. The South China Sea Arbitration Award of 2016, which found the People’s Republic of China’s actions did not conform to the principles of international law, demonstrated only the latest example of China’s ongoing attempts to further its sovereign interest in the sea.
China’s claims over this maritime environment are based on two key components. The first is that China has long-standing and historical interests in the South China Sea region, dating back to the Ming Dynasty and the Three Principles of Sovereignty. This history is invoked to justify China’s unwavering claims to the region. The second component is based on the principles of “indisputable sovereignty” and “uninterrupted land control.”
Despite the increasing international attention around the issue, the Chinese have yet to relent. Since 2013, the People’s Republic of China has been transforming certain regions of the sea, such as Mischief Reef and Subi Reef, into military fortifications. On July 12, 2017, the Chinese government announced that it had deployed missiles in the region, solidifying their desire to make their presence known in the South China Sea.
The People’s Republic of China’s claims have been met with opposition from other states in the region, particularly when China has attempted to build on its claims. Recently, the Association of South East Asian Nations has taken progressive steps to ensure that the sovereignty of the states bordering the South China Sea is maintained. The South China Sea Arbitration award of 2016, which was made in response to the Philippines’ attempts to enforce the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is an example of this resistance.
The Role Of The United States In The South China Sea
The United States has played a major role in attempting to bring the parties to the South China Sea region to the negotiating table. In addition to its diplomatic efforts, U.S. naval vessels have conducted “freedom of navigation” operations in the region as a show of support for the claims of states in the region, as well as a demonstration of international law. On August 10, 2016, USS William P. Lawrence became the first U.S. Navy vessel to conduct a Freedom of Navigation operation in claims held by the People’s Republic of China in the South China Sea.
The United States has also sought to provide material and financial assistance to South East Asian countries to assist them in their pursuit of territorial rights in the South China Sea. At the East Asia Summit held in Cambodia in 2011, the United States announced it would be providing nearly $40 million in maritime capacity building assistance to the countries of the South East Asian region. In 2014, the United States also provided several nations with material assistance, such as high-tech surveillance equipment, to aid in the enforcement of claims in the region.
The United States can also be thanked for bringing many of the claimants to the negotiating table. In 2014, the United States and the People’s Republic of China agreed to hold a semi-annual meeting on implementing the Code of Conduct agreement in the South China Sea. In 2017, the United States also supported the adoption of a Code of Conduct framework at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila. The framework calls for the resolution of disputes by peaceful means, rejecting the use of force by parties, and facilitating negotiations between the states involved.
The Impact Of The South China Sea Disputes On International Trade
The South China Sea disputes have had an increasingly disruptive impact on international trade. This is due to the number of shipping routes running through the region. Shipping lanes in the South China Sea are a critical part of global trade, as many states depend on them for commerce. As a result, any disruption to trade in the region could have serious economic implications worldwide.
The potential for disruption has only increased as tensions continue to rise and more clashes occur. China and the other countries involved have resorted to aggressive military exercises to send a message to nearby countries. In March 2020, the People’s Republic of China and the United States had a maritime dispute which nearly resulted in a major conflict. This is a prime example of how the South China Sea disputes have the potential to disrupt international trade.
The escalating dispute has also led to a number of other issues for the countries involved. Construction of new military bases and outposts has disrupted vital maritime eco-systems and affected the livelihood of locals. As a result, states and organizations have started taking positions on how to manage the situation and protect the environmentally fragile region.
In addition, the presence of competing interests from other countries in the region, including the United States and Japan, has further complicated the situation. The United States and Japan, for example, have sought to de-escalate the dispute and have encouraged talks between the parties to reach peaceful solutions.
The Overall Impact Of The South China Sea Disputes
The South China Sea disputes have the potential to spark the destabilization of international relations in the region and beyond. Clashes have already occurred between the parties to the dispute, and as tensions continue to rise, the risk of further confrontation increases. Furthermore, relations between China and many other countries, including the United States and Japan, have deteriorated due to the disputes, leading to increased polarization in the region.
The dispute has also had an impact on the environment and on the livelihoods of local fishermen. As a result, some experts have argued that the dispute can only be resolved through diplomacy, rather than military measures. The United Nations, for example, has reached out to the states involved, encouraging them to come to the negotiating table to find a peaceful solution to the dispute.
Given the complexity of the disputes and the countries involved, a resolution is unlikely to be reached any time soon. In order to minimize the potential for further tension and conflict, the countries involved must be willing to come to the table and address the political, economic and security concerns of the region in a collaborative and constructive manner.
