A Problem Dating Back Hundreds Of Years
Tensions in the South China Sea date back centuries, as the area offers numerous economically valuable opportunities for nearby countries. Currently, the area is subject to a number of overlapping territorial claims from countries including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam also lay claim to parts of the region, while the United States and other countries have established the Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPS) program in the South China Sea in order to assert what they consider their right to navigate through the waterways.
The South China Sea sees more than $5 trillion worth of trade pass through its shipping lanes annually, according to the US Office of Naval Intelligence, making it one of the world’s busiest waterways. It also holds economic incentive in terms of fisheries, shipwrecks, natural gas, and oil deposits. For this reason, China and other countries have attempted to stake their claims on the sea’s resources.
China’s Expansion
China has increased its presence in the South China Sea since the late 2000s, building six artificial islands designed to serve as military bases in the Paracel and Spratly Islands. Beijing has also been increasing its military presence in the area, issuing new patrolling regulations and outfitting its ships with new weapons. Chinese vessels regularly encroach on waters belonging to other countries in the area, and in 2018, the United States accused China of militarizing the South China Sea after Beijing outfitted its newly built structures with antiship and antiaircraft weapons.
In addition to its military build-up, China has also used its Coast Guard vessels to prevent other countries’ fishermen from entering the region’s contested waters. Beijing has reserved the right to expel any “foreign organizations and individuals” from the South China Sea, claiming the right to do so based on historic claim.
The 2016 Ruling
The ongoing dispute over the South China Sea reached a head in 2016, when an international tribunal at The Hague ruled that China had no historic claim over the majority of the South China Sea’s waters. China responded by rejecting the tribunal’s ruling and refusing to abide by the court’s decision. Since then, China’s presence in the region has only increased. In 2020, China passed a law that allowed its Coast Guard forces to use “all necessary means” to combat threats in the South China Sea. This move has only increased tension between China and the other countries in the region.
Beijing has also sought to use economic and diplomatic power in the region. Chinese President Xi Jinping has personally visited the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam, offering investments and economic incentives in exchange for concessions on control of certain areas of the South China Sea. China has also been actively pressuring Southeast Asian states to accept its expansive definition of sovereignty in the region.
Constant Disputes
China’s ongoing presence in the South China Sea has led to numerous disputes. The most notable of these have come in the form of stand-offs between China and other countries’ ships, cameras, and surveillance equipment. This has included a 2017 incident between Chinese vessels and a US surveillance ship, a 2018 incident in which Vietnam accused a Chinese vessel of ramming their ships, and a 2019 incident in which the Philippines and China held a tense standoff near the Scarborough Shoal.
Beijing’s increased presence in the area has led to increased tensions between the US and China, with the US Navy regularly challenging China’s presence in the South China Sea. This includes issuing their own navigational rights in the region, standing up to China’s coast guard vessels, and demanding that China abide by the 2016 ruling of the international tribunal.
The US has also conducted joint exercises with countries in the region and issued sanctions against Chinese entities for their actions in the South China Sea. The US has also been deploying more military hardware to the region, including destroyers and aircrafts to counter China’s increased presence. Furthermore, the US has accused China of using its presence in the South China Sea to gain control of the oceanic traffic routes, allowing them to control much of the trade that passes through the region.
Regional Diplomacy
In the face of increasing US and Chinese presence, the countries of the region have been attempting to find a diplomatic solution to the ongoing disputes in the South China Sea. This has led to the formation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The 10-member regional bloc was created in 1967, and has been attempting to find a diplomatic resolution to conflicts between its members and other countries in the region. The association has attempted to spur economic cooperation between its members, as well as between the members and other countries in the region. Additionally, ASEAN has attempted to foster regional security, though they have yet to find a resolution to the ongoing disputes in the South China Sea.
In 2018, ASEAN and China created a framework for a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. This was an attempt to find a peaceful resolution to the disputes in the region, though the COC has yet to be ratified. The COC seeks to implement rules for joint development in the South China Sea, as well as rules for handling disputes between the countries involved. This move has been seen as a step towards establishing a lasting peace in the South China Sea.
Escalation of Tows
Despite moves towards a peaceful resolution, tensions in the South China Sea have not decreased. In 2020, China deployed more than 200 vessels to the Paracel Islands as a show of force, prompting international condemnation. China has also continued to aggressively tackle other countries’ vessels in the region, with the latest incident coming in 2021 when Chinese Coast Guard vessels intercepted and detained a Taiwanese fishing vessel in the area.
The US has also increased its presence in the region, sanctioning any Chinese vessels that violate the rights of other countries. The US has also accused China of attempting to establish an “Air Defense Identification Zone” in the South China Sea, a move that would give China additional control over the region.
A Short Term Resolution
While a long-term resolution to the South China Sea dispute is still up in the air, a short-term solution could be achieved by countries in the region engaging in joint development programs. These programs could involve drilling for natural resources in the area, providing economic aid to nearby countries, developing infrastructure in the region, and engaging in a more open dialogue with China on the issue.
Additionally, the US and other countries could continue to push China to accept the 2016 ruling of the international tribunal, as well as its initiative for a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. ASEAN has also shown its willingness to engage in dialogue with China, and the US could use its presence in the region to encourage other countries to work together with Beijing to establish a lasting peace in the South China Sea.
Negotiated Outcome
In order to finally resolve the South China Sea issue, all the countries involved must be willing to negotiate and work together to create a lasting solution. Each country should be prepared to make concessions and work towards a peaceful resolution. The region’s countries should engage in dialogue with other countries in the region, as well as with China, to ensure that all the countries are equally represented when the negotiations take place.
Furthermore, all countries should be willing to drop any militaristic claim to the South China Sea. This means that no country should be allowed to use force to gain control of the region. In addition, all countries should be ready to abide by the ruling of the international tribunal in 2016, as well as the Code of Conduct that has been proposed by China and ASEAN.
China and the US must also work together to reach a resolution. The US should be willing to accept China’s presence in the region, while China should be willing to recognize the US’s right to navigate the area. Both sides should also be willing to allow international organizations to mediate the dispute, and abstain from using force to gain control of the region.
Conclusion
The South China Sea has been a source of contention between China, the US, and the other countries of the region for decades. Each side has their own claim on the region, but in order to find a meaningful solution, all sides must be willing to come to the table and negotiate a lasting resolution. As long as all countries involved are willing to make concessions and work together, a resolution might be possible.
