The South China Sea, bordered by numerous countries, contains a number of resource-laden islands. China historic claims its sovereignty over much – or even all – of the South China Sea. As a result of its actions, however, China has risked the anger of certain other states with the same claim on the area, creating significant geopolitical tension. In order to understand various stances on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and China-ASEAN negotiations, it is essential to analyze the South China Sea’s boundaries, disputes, and its implications.
China’s Clam
China has constantly emphasized its rights of historical sovereignty over much of the South China Sea. It has emphasized this based on its nine-dash line which demarcates what it views as its territorial waters. This position has been constantly asserted by China in its White Paper on the “China’s position on the matter of the jurisdiction of the South China Sea” which was released in 2011. The White Paper discussed in detail the historical facts and legal policies on which it is grounding its right. In July 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled against China’s territorial dispute claim, though Beijing has dismissed the ruling.
The Philippines
Another country with stake in this territorial dispute is the Philippines, a country in the East Asia region. The Philippines is contesting China’s claims over the Sprately Islands, part of the South China Sea, due to a case lodged in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. According to the Philippine government, this case was meant to clarify the definition of the Sprately Islands and to ensure that the country has proper rights to a large portion of the South China Sea. In 2016, the country won its case in the Tribunal, and China’s nine-dash line was declared to have “no legal basis.”
ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is another major actor in this dispute. ASEAN is an international organization that consists of ten South East Asian countries, namely: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Phillipines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. As a group, ASEAN is negotiating with China on a Code of Conduct over the South China Sea with the upmost urgency, given that the dispute has lasted for several years with no resolution. ASEAN has officially agreed to resolve the dispute using international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in an effort to maintain peace and stability in the region and to uphold the multilateral diplomatic process.
Geopolitics
The South China Sea dispute has been an issue in geopolitics for several decades. It has caused tensions between not only China and the Philippines, but also between China and the ASEAN, raising critical questions about the viability of their relationship. This dispute has also been a critical issue in China-U.S. relations. The U.S. has been critical of China’s actions in the South China Sea, and in response, it has conducted naval patrols in the area. The U.S.-China tension over this issue is evident in the Freedom of Navigation Operations conducted by the U.S. Navy ships in the South China Sea annually.
Environmental Impact
The South China Sea dispute is also having significant environmental consequences. Fisheries on the area are being depleted due to the increased activity in the area. Furthermore, increasing activities in the area, such as land reclamation and oil exploration, can cause damage to the ecosystem. In recent years, there have been reports of extensive damage to the coral reefs caused by the illegal fishing activities in the area. This issue is of primary concern as coral reefs are known to be home to many species, and their destruction will have a long-term impact on the wildlife in the area.
Nationalism
Increasingly, the dispute has been a source of nationalism for the countries involved in the dispute. Nationalistic sentiment in China has grown, with Chinese leaders citing the country’s historical involvement in the area as evidence of its absolute rights to what they see as its historical boundaries. Similar nationalist sentiments have been present in the Philippines, where the ruling party has continued to emphasize sovereignty in the South China Sea as a source of national pride. The governments of other ASEAN members have also used this dispute to stir up nationalistic feeling among their citizens.
Legal Efforts
Several countries have sought to resolve the South China Sea dispute through various international agreements, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides mechanisms to peacefully settle terriorial disputes and to maintain peace and stability in the region. Despite these efforts, the South China Sea dispute has yet to be resolved, creating an ever-growing amount of tension in the region.
USA and China Conflict
The involvement of the United States of America in the issue has raised the stakes of the dispute, with the U.S. taking an active stance against China in the region. In the past, the U.S. has conducted military exercises and aerial patrols in the South China Sea in order to challenge China’s claim over the region. In 2017, the Trump administration shifted its policy toward the dispute, stating its support for the “peaceful resolution of the dispute with respect to international law”.
Role Of Media
In any political dispute, the media plays a large role in forming public opinion. Media outlets have been covering the South China Sea dispute for decades, with differing portrays of China’s actions depending on their national origin. In China, news sources often report on the dispute from nationalist angles, emphasizing China’s historical rights to the region. Other countries’ news sources, on the other hand, often portray China’s actions as aggressive and in violation of international law.
The Way Forward
It is evident that the South China Sea dispute is a complex web of legal and geopolitical entanglements. The dispute has caused tensions between several nations and has also had implications for global politics in the region. It is unlikely that any one country will gain exclusive rights to the region and it must be resolved through political negotiation and mediation. As the various countries involved formulate their respective policies, it is essential that they do so in consideration of historical precedent, international law, and the needs and rights of all concerned parties.
