Historical Context
The South China Sea has a long history, with many claimants to sovereignty over various parts of it. China claims all of the sea, based on various historical documents, but other countries make competing claims to the area. China is the most vocal and aggressive claimant, but its claims to the sea have become increasingly contentious since the 1989 Tiananmen Square Incident.
Tiananmen Square has become an international symbol of oppression and civil unrest in China, and the incident revealed for the first time the depth of dissatisfaction towards the Chinese government. This incident served to embolden those countries which have claims to the South China Sea, as they began to see China’s intensified nationalism as an opportunity to acquire more of the disputed waters.
Contemporary Situations
In recent times, China’s views on the South China Sea have hardened due to its strategic value. The South China Sea provides a strategic chokehold on East Asia, and major oil and gas reserves lie in its depths, making it a major player in world trade. China is determined to secure control over the area and has frequently argued in international forums that only it has the historical and legal right to the waters.
It is this attitude, and its stance on the maritime boundaries it has drawn, that has caused much contention with other countries in the region. China’s claim on the islands conflicts with the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, yet China continues to insist that its historical economic rights should be respected. As such, it has become embroiled in numerous disputes concerning territorial waters and EEZs, elevated by the presence of military personnel and operations in the waters.
Legal Dispute
Tensions have risen throughout the region and have developed into a full-blown legal dispute. China has refused to take part in arbitration proceedings over its maritime claims, arguing that sovereignty of such islands cannot be subject to adjudication by international tribunals. The dispute came to a head when a United Nations tribunal sided in favour of The Philippines’ claim to the area. China flatly refused to accept the ruling, citing a doctrine of ‘historic rights’ it claims gives it effective control over the entire sea.
Since the ruling was delivered in July 2016, many other countries in the South China Sea have begun to challenge China’s assertion and have been supported by the international community. This has only served to further exacerbate the tensions between the nations.
Regional Reactions
The reaction of other countries to China’s increased presence in the South China Sea has been overwhelmingly negative. Australia, for example, has strongly condemned China’s actions, which it has labelled as “unlawful and destabilising”. The United States has called for freedom of navigation in the region and has continued to conduct naval exercises in the area in order to reinforce its influence.
Additionally, tensions between China and other claimants have risen. China has increasingly acted unilaterally in the area and has ignored the concerns and objections raised by its neighbours. This has caused a surge in anti-Chinese sentiment among its regional neighbours, which has in turn contributed to regional instability.
International Criticism
The international community has not been mellow towards China’s stance on the South China Sea either. Nations have criticised China’s excessive ambition, with the United Kingdom and India joining the chorus of disapproval in 2019. Nations have also spoken out against China’s disregarding of the UN’s 2016 ruling, and its refusal to act responsibly with regards to the preservation of peace in the region.
Moreover, the United States has accused China of “weaponizing artificial islands to intimidate and coerce other nations”, and of using its “dominant influence” to keep the UN from acting against its interests. As such, the international community’s attitude toward China has only hardened in the wake of the tension in the South China Sea.
Sino-American relations
In recent years, Sino-American relations have quickly deteriorated over the struggle for control of the South China Sea. China has remained resolute in its position and has shown little willingness to compromise, while the US has been increasingly vocal in its rejection of Chinese territorial claims. As such, the issue of the South China Sea has become increasingly intertwined with the increasingly strained relationship between Beijing and Washington.
The US has continued to conduct operations and exercises in the South China Sea in an effort to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of navigation in the area. This, however, has only served to further infuriate the Chinese government, which claims such activities are undermining its own claims to the region. The US has also strongly opposed the ‘nine-dash-line’ China has drawn on Chinese maps, which it views as a de facto assertion of Chinese control over the entire area.
Investment in the Region
Despite ongoing clashes in the area, China has continued to invest heavily in the South China Sea region, viewing it as a key component of their Belt and Road Initiative. The region has seen an influx of Chinese investment, as well as the construction of artificial islands in order to extend China’s reach in the area. The Chinese government sees such investments as a way to strengthen its position over the area, as well as to boost its economic ties with the region.
The investments in the region, however, have been met with opposition from the international community. Many countries have expressed concern that such investments may be used to extend China’s influence throughout the region, and that Beijing’s actions may “undermine the stability and peace of the region”. Despite this, China is determined to realise its ambitions for the South China Sea and will continue to invest heavily in the region.
Conclusion of Chinese Policy
Much to the dismay of the international community, China’s policies in the South China Sea have become increasingly assertive and aggressive since the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident. The Chinese government is intent on securing control over the region and has created artificial islands in an effort to extend its reach in the area. China has also refused to engage in international legal proceedings over its claims, arguing that such sovereignty claims cannot be subject to adjudication.
Last but not least, China’s increased investments in the area have further intensified international tensions and are seen as a way of consolidating its position in the South China Sea region. The Chinese government is determined to maintain its position of strength and is resolute in its stand on the South China Sea.
