The South China Sea, which stretches from the Gulf of Tonkin in Vietnam to the Strait of Singapore, is a body of water in southeast Asia that has been the subject of contentious international diplomacy and debate for centuries. Since the end of the Second World War, multiple countries, including China and the Philippines, have laid claim to the South China Sea and its resources. While numerous nations having claims over the same body of water puts the region in contention for sovereignty, China’s claim has been the largest and most contentious one.
At the heart of the debate is the nine-dash line drawn by the People’s Republic of China on official maps of the region. This indicates that China’s historical claims to the South China Sea include much more than its national territorial waters, and have been in effect since the 1940s. The nine-dash line includes almost all of the South China sea including a large portion of the waters of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines.
The Chinese claim is seen as especially aggressive by many nations, considering the significant international resources present in the region. The South China Sea is a vital trade route and is home to vital oil and natural gas reserves. In addition to the resources, the claim extends over disputed islands, reefs, and ocean banks, as well as specific sea lanes, property and areas of fishing. In a world increasingly concerned about climate change, the claims to the South China Sea also include may include vast amounts of newly discovered corals, important for the ecosystems of the area, as well as potential renewable energy sources like oceanic turbulence and wave energy.
Chinese officials argue that their claim is based on centuries of settlement in the region, as well as their traditional boundaries. They point to their centuries of fishing and settlement in the South China Sea and argue that their claim is based on traditional Chinese borders. They argue that the nine-dash line is supported by centuries-old maps and ancient Chinese maritime navigation records that have been used by historians to draw the traditional boundaries of Chinese territory. However, with the large amount of resources in the area, there are numerous experts who argue that China is merely trying to extend its political and economic influence into the area.
Many countries consider China’s nine-dash line illegal under international maritime law. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), states that countries must abide by their own claims, but also respect other countries’ claims to the same body of water. However, because the Chinese claim is so large, encompassing the resources of multiple countries, many argue that the claim is in violation of this international law. The Chinese have repeatedly rejected appeals by other countries to refrain from aggressive behavior in the area and have sought to defend their rights to the South China Sea.
Moreover, China has been seeking to consolidate its influence in the South China Sea by building artificial military outposts on a number of disputed islands in the region. China has strict regulations on who can access these new islands and the military presence serves to protect and further extend its interests in the area. This further complicates the issue as it serves to reinforce the Chinese claims and crystallizes their influence in the area and their control over the resources therein.
Although many of the agreements and conflicts surrounding the South China Sea remain unresolved, China’s claims to the area remain powerful and undisputed by many of the countries who share the sea. With the resources at stake, naval presence, and historical claims, China has become the largest actor in this contentious diplomatic situation.
The Economic Significance
The South China Sea holds immense economic potential for China in that it could likely serve as a gateway for billions of dollars in trade and transit. This potential is, in part, explained by the main shipping route through which a large portion of global trade is conducted, the Straits of Malacca. In addition to this economic significance, the South China Sea is home to vast untapped resources such as fish, oil, natural gas and minerals that could potentially be worth trillions of dollars. For mainland China, this discovery can help its economy become more independent and resilient by decreasing its dependency on imports while reducing their need to expend funds in overseas purchases. This would be a major economic boon for mainland China, especially in a time of increasing economic hardship due to the global pandemic.
Efforts to exploit the resources in the South China Sea have been met with strong opposition from the U.S. government, with the U.S. Navy often patrolling the contested waters. The most recent instance of this was in July when a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer sailed through the contested waters near the Paracel islands which are claimed by both China and Vietnam. The U.S. Navy’s actions were viewed as an effort to pressure the Chinese government and challenge the legitimacy of China’s claims in the South China Sea. However, the act was largely symbolic since the U.S. does not have any legal claims to the region.
The International Response
The Chinese claim to the South China Sea has been met with a hostile response from other countries involved. The Philippines and Vietnam have both filed formal cases with the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague to challenge China’s claims to the South China Sea under international law. In 2016, the Court ruled that China’s ‘nine-dash’ line had no legal basis and that China had acted unlawfully in furthering its claims. This decision has largely been seen as a legal victory by these countries and has prompted them to raise their voices in the present day against the Chinese claim to the region.
Other countries in the South China Sea region, such as Indonesia and Taiwan, have also rejected China’s claim to the region. However, since they are not signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, their voices are not officially taken into consideration. Despite the fact that their arguments are deemed unofficial, Indonesia and Taiwan have still vocally spoken out against the Chinese claim and have taken steps to establish their own legal claims to the region. This, in turn, further complicates the international dispute surrounding the South China Sea.
The international response to China’s claims in the South China Sea has been largely unified in opposition. The countries involved in the dispute have come together, often through regional organizations, in order to oppose China’s presence and to put an end to the Chinese economic and military expansion into the region. As such, China has faced international pressure to withdraw its claims and to recognize the rights of all the countries involved.
The Impact on Regional Politics
The Chinese claim to the South China Sea has had a profound impact on regional politics. As the dispute between China and the other countries in the region grows, so too does tension between the nations involved. The issue has become a major factor in bilateral ties between the countries and has led many regional organizations to form to address the regional security concerns surrounding the South China Sea. These organizations have sought to mediate the dispute and to reaffirm the rights of all the countries involved.
The continued presence of Chinese vessels in the South China Sea is seen as a direct threat to the sovereignty of the countries involved. This has caused an increase in military presence in the area and spurred an arms race among the countries involved. This increase in military presence and expenditure on weaponry has led to further tension in the region and has become a major source of contention in the dispute over the region.
Furthermore, the Chinese claim to the region has had a chilling effect on cooperation in the area. This has become especially true in areas such as fish-stock management, environmental protection, human rights and freedom of navigation. The nations involved have come together to oppose China’s claim but also to strengthen their collaboration for the sake of the region.
China’s Response to International Criticism
In response to international criticism of its claim to the South China Sea, China has argued that their presence in the region is in accordance with international law. They argue that their claim is rooted in centuries of Chinese maritime tradition and is supported by international law, despite the verdict of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. This legal argument has been widely refuted by international legal experts, but has nonetheless been widely circulated by Chinese officials.
Chinese officials have also resorted to nationalist rhetoric to defend their position in South China Sea. They have argued that their presence in the region is necessary for their sovereignty and national security and that any foreign presence in the region is a threat to this. Officials have drawn on emotional appeals to nationalism and argued that China has a legitimate right to defend its interests in the region. This emotional rhetoric has been used to win support from the public, but has been widely rejected by the international community as a whole.
Additionally, China has enacted a policy of “dual-track negotiation” which seeks to resolve the dispute over the South China Sea through both diplomatic efforts and military presence. The policy has entailed increased dialogue between China and the other countries in the region, as well as increased military presence in the region. This has further complicated the situation as it has prompted an increase in military expenditure by the countries involved and has created a sense of tension and insecurity in the region.
Conclusion
Since the 1940s, China has maintained a claim to the South China Sea which includes numerous islands and reefs, as well as significant international resources. The Chinese claim has been met with strong opposition by the other nations involved in the dispute and has caused significant tension in the region. China’s claim has also spurred a regional arms race and Chinese officials have appealed to public sentiment and nationalism to further their arguments. As the dispute over the South China Sea continues, it is likely that this contentious international diplomacy will be a major factor in the geopolitics of Southeast Asia for the foreseeable future.
