Background Information
The South China Sea, also known as the West Philippine Sea, is a body of water between the mainland Chinese coast and Southeast Asian countries that plays an important role in global geopolitics. The South China Sea borders many countries, including the People’s Republic of China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. The total area of the sea is about 3.5 million square kilometers, making it the largest body of water in the Indo-Pacific region.
The South China Sea is the source of major global trade and the center of the world’s largest fishing fleet. It is also a major transit way of maritime trade, carrying products from the East Asian to the US and Europe. The waters are home to many fishing and seafood processing industries, as well as large concentrations of oil and gas reserves. Historically, many of the countries in the region have had territorial disputes over the South China Sea.
Relevant Data
The South China Sea is important to the global economy and plays a strategic role in geopolitics. It serves as an important transit way for ships in the region and is home to rich fishing resources, valuable hydrocarbon deposits, and potential mineral resources. Every year, it welcomes up to 57,000 vessels and is estimated to hold over 11 billion barrels of oil. Moreover, the sea contains abundant fish and seafood resources and is home to several soft coral reefs and seagrass beds.
The South China Sea is also a site of major regional dispute. There are overlapping claims of sovereignty over several of its maritime features, including the Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, and Scarborough Shoal. These disputed features are of strategic value to all the states involved due to their proximity to key trading routes and rich fishing resources.
Perspectives from Experts
According to maritime law experts, the South China Sea is a semi-enclosed sea with shared but disputed sovereignty by its littoral states. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which was adopted in 1982 and came into effect in 1994, provides the legal framework for resolving territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Article 121 of UNCLOS specifically defines islands, rocks, and low-tide elevations as maritime features which can be claimed by states.
International relations experts point out that the long-standing disputes over the South China Sea have hindered international cooperation and the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes. In addition to maritime law issues, the disputes have also raised deep geopolitical and economic concerns for the participating countries. For instance, China’s increasing economic and military presence in the region has alarmed its neighbors who consider it a threat to their sovereignty.
Insights and Analysis
The South China Sea is an important body of water that affects the world’s economy and geopolitics. Its valuable fishing and hydrocarbon resources, strategic location, and disputed sovereignty have made it a flashpoint for geopolitical tensions between the countries in the region. Through UNCLOS and other international agreements, the states involved have attempted to peacefully resolve the maritime disputes.
Despite these efforts, the disputes have yet to be fully settled and it remains unclear who will ultimately be granted sovereignty over the South China Sea. China’s growing economic and military presence in the region has further complicated the matter and raised alarm among its neighbors. All the while, the sea continues to play an important role in trade and fishing industries as well as international relations.
Environmental Impact
The South China Sea has been undergoing massive environmental changes due to the activities of its littoral states. Large-scale reclamation and development have been undertaken to improve maritime infrastructure and exploit the area’s fishing and hydrocarbon resources. This has led to the destruction of coastal ecosystems and habitats, endangering biodiversity and disrupting the local food web.
Industrial pollution is another major environmental concern in the South China Sea. In addition to the discharge of untreated industrial wastewater, ships sailing through the sea pollute it with heavy metals, oil, and other chemicals. These pollutants can enter the food web through the absorption and bioaccumulation of toxins by marine animals and plants, creating long-term environmental damage and posing a threat to human health.
Trade and Security
The South China Sea is an important transit way for global trade and transportation. Over 70 percent of the world’s oil shipments and 40 percent of global maritime trade pass through the sea, making it an integral part of the global economy. The presence of valuable resources and strategic value have led to increased military presence in the area by China and the United States, making it a site of potential armed conflict.
The increased presence of military vessels in the South China Sea has raised fears of a heightened risk of maritime accidents and confrontations. In recent years, some incidents such as naval exercises and border disputes have occurred in the contested waters and have escalated tensions between littoral states. As a result, many countries have called for stronger international regulation and cooperation to ensure the safety and security of ships navigating the South China Sea.
International Cooperation
In an effort to peacefully resolve maritime disputes and promote maritime security, the countries in the region have been engaged in a variety of activities, including strategic dialogues, joint exercises, confidence-building measures, and the establishment of codes of conduct. The success of these initiatives has been mixed, however, as some of the participating states have come into direct conflict.
In addition to the existing measures, there is also a need for increased international cooperation and dialogue to foster effective cooperation in the South China Sea. For instance, states can engage in dispute settlement mechanisms such as arbitration and established regional organizations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to strengthen maritime stability in the region. Governments and international organizations should also work together to ensure the continued protection of the environment and fishing resources in the South China Sea.
Political Involvement
In recent years, the South China Sea disputes have become increasingly politicized, with governments and activists across the region staking their positions on the issue. In the Philippines, for example, President Rodrigo Duterte has shifted his country’s position from asserting its claims to engaging in dialogue with China. On the other hand, some Chinese activists have actively opposed the country’s policies on the South China Sea by conducting public protests and campaigns for the protection of other countries’ claims in the territory.
At the same time, academics, civil society organizations, and international experts have also stepped up their involvement in the dispute by organizing seminars, conducting studies, and creating regional networks. Their efforts have provided an avenue for additional perspectives on the dispute and helping to raise public awareness of the issue. Despite these efforts, however, the disputes remain unresolved and it is difficult to predict if and when they will ever be settled.
Resource Management
Due to the increased competition for the South China Sea’s resources, the participating states have implemented a variety of management measures. China, for instance, has engaged in co-management of fisheries and oil exploration with other states in the region. Other states have also undertaken measures such as issuing fishing bans and declaring various parts of the sea as marine protected areas.
Despite such initiatives, illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing, illicit oil exploration, and marine pollution continue to be serious issues in the South China Sea due to the overlapping claims, lack of monitoring and enforcement, and gaps in the existing management framework. As a result, governments, NGOs, and international institutions have called for increased efforts to address these issues and improve resource management in the region.
