Introduction
The South China Sea is an area of strategic importance, as it is a very large maritime region that is located between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is also known as the “Second Island Chain” or “First Island Chain” because it is the only area with a large number of islands, atolls, and archipelagos. The South China Sea is rich in resources, and there has been a “scramble” for its natural abundance by many nations in the region. The area has also become a recent flashpoint for potential conflict due to overlapping claims to sovereignty over the sea’s islands and coastline, with many nations having assertive military and economic interests in the South China Sea.
Geographical Location, Bordering Countries and Size
The South China Sea is a geographically strategic, semi-enclosed marginal sea and is located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by numerous states in the region, including mainland China and Taiwan to the north, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brunei to the south, as well as Indonesia and Singapore to the southeast. The sea spans an expanse of 3.6 million square kilometers, and its waters are known for their reefs, deep trenches, shoals, and other features. The South China Sea is the third largest marginal sea in the world after the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas, and is home to more than 200 small islands, rocks, and cays.
Resources In The South China Sea
The South China Sea is home to a wide array of resources, including fish, energy resources and mineral deposits. The sea is thought to hold reserves of natural gas and crude oil, potentially as much as 24.3 billion metric tons of crude oil. It is also thought to hold large amounts of natural gas, which could potentially be billions of cubic feet of gas, or even more. The economic value of the resources in the South China Sea is estimated to be anywhere from US$19 billion to US$165 billion.
The South China Sea is also a highly productive fishing area, and contains some of the most productive marine fisheries in the world. It is estimated that more than 500 species of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other marine organisms inhabit the sea. The waters are used by exports from the region, as well as from people as far away as Japan and Europe. High-value species such as groupers, lobster, and sea cucumbers are popular catches in the South China Sea.
Economic And Political Importance
The South China Sea is of great economic and political importance to the nations that border it. It is a highly contested region due to the sovereignty claims of various nations, which can make navigation and maritime activities dangerous. Furthermore, some of the nations in the region have established exclusive economic zones in the South China Sea, claiming sovereign rights to these areas and the resources they contain.
The economic benefits of the South China Sea are extensive as they are. Economically, it serves as a major maritime transport route and has many ports, such as Port Klang in Malaysia and Hong Kong. Moreover, it also serves as a host to many oil and gas rigs that are responsible for the exploration and extraction of energy resources in the area. Additionally, the South China Sea is responsible for the exportation of agricultural and fishery products, contributing to many nations’ GDPs.
Conflicts Over The Region
The South China Sea is an area of great strategic and economic importance, and thus is the subject of overlapping territorial claims from many nations. Apart from mainland China and Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia all have territorial claims over the South China Sea. Due to these overlapping claims and the presence of many small islands and reefs, the potential for conflict is high in the region. The potential for a conflict to lead to a major confrontation has been a cause for concern for the international community.
In addition to overlapping territorial claims, the region has been the site of various disputes over oil and gas exploration. The region is believed to hold large amounts of crude oil, prompting many nations to claim sovereignty over the resources in the area. Furthermore, disputes over fishing rights have occasionally resulted in violent clashes between neighbouring countries, threatening the peace and stability of the region.
China’s Increasing Presence
The Chinese government has increasingly asserted itself in the South China Sea, claiming large swaths of the sea as its own. As a result, China has constructed numerous artificial islands in the area, some of which have militaristic purposes. It has also increased its presence in the area through its creation of a naval base on the Paracel Islands and its efforts to develop the coastline and islands for economic purposes. Furthermore, the Chinese government has asserted its authority in the South China Sea in various other ways, such as establishing fuel supply chains for ships and aircraft. These actions have caused concerns among the nations that have territorial claims over the region, creating friction and tension in the South China Sea.
International Initiatives To Resolve Disputes
In order to reduce the potential for conflict in the South China Sea, various regional initiatives have been pursued in an attempt to de-escalate any disputes. One such example is the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), which was signed in 2002 between China and the member states of ASEAN. The document is a non-binding agreement outlining the aims of maintaining peace in the region and outlining methods for the resolution of disputes. However, the effectiveness of the DOC in de-escalating tensions between the signatories has been questioned, as disputes have still occurred in the past.
Environmental Impact of the South China Sea
The South China Sea has come under scrutiny in recent years due to its environmental impact. The region has become an area of concern for many ecological activists, primarily due to the amount of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing that goes on in the region. Furthermore, irresponsible industrial and agricultural development has polluted the waters of the South China Sea, contributing to the destruction of its fragile ecosystems. Additionally, climate change has also caused sea-level rises, resulting in further displacement of populations and coastal erosion.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the South China Sea is an area of great economic and strategic importance, and the many overlapping claims to its waters have created the potential for disputes. Furthermore, it is also home to a variety of resources and habitats that could be easily ruined due to irresponsible industrial, agricultural and fishing practices, making environmental protection in the region all the more important. If proper steps are taken to limit the potential for conflict and protect the environment of the South China Sea, then it could become a major contributor to stability, peace and prosperity in the region.
