Background Information
The South China Sea is a strategic maritime region that comprises of important trade and navigation routes. It is also home to some of the world’s most valuable fisheries, providing a livelihood to millions of people. Other resources and commodities that are found within the South China Sea region are oil and minerals.
Disputes over the South China Sea region are complex and centuries old. China, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam are the countries most directly involved in the dispute.
China
China claims a 200-mile ‘exclusive economic zone’ in the South China Sea, encompassing a large portion of the sea’s islands. China’s actions in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to the vital sea lanes of communication and the stability of the region, with reports of an expanded military and security presence.
Philippines
The Philippines have overlapping territorial claims with China, which have been the subject of arbitration since 2013. The Philippines claims the Scarborough shoal, located north of the Filipino island of Palawan, as their exclusive economic zone, while China claims all of the South China Sea.
Malaysia
Malaysia has claims to at least part of the South China Sea and also disputes some of China’s boundaries on the sea. In recent years, Malaysia has stepped up its military presence near certain disputed areas, alongside naval exercises in joint cooperation with the United States.
Vietnam
Vietnam claims a large area around the Spratly and Paracel islands, which are also subject to territorial claims by the Philippines, Malaysia, China and Taiwan. This has led to tense relations between China and Vietnam and a tense military standoff in the area, with both countries deploying ships to protect their interests.
Analysis and Expert Perspective
The South China Sea dispute is a complex issue, with all of the countries involved having overlapping claims. This has led to a number of international incidents, including naval skirmishes and military drills, as well as an increase in tensions between all of the countries involved.
According to Larry Bell, Senior Fellow from the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, “The South China Sea is a test for how much China is able to push its boundaries and how far it is willing to go. If it is able to successfully deny two allies of the United States access to the area, this could signal a much more aggressive move from China in the future.”
Concerns Over Chinese Expansion
The Chinese government has been accused of taking a more aggressive stance in the South China Sea in recent years, with reports of a buildup of military assets in the region and the possible construction of artificial islands. This has caused alarm among some of the countries in the region, as well as other governments in the world.
For example, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned that “China’s claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea are completely unlawful, as is its campaign of bullying to control them.” He further added that “the world will not allow Beijing to treat the South China Sea as its maritime empire.”
Implications on International Relationships
The dispute in the South China Sea has had a significant effect on the international relationship between some of the countries involved.
For example, the Philippines and China have had a strained relationship since the 2013 arbitration ruling and the Philippines has since sought closer defense ties with the United States. In response, China has suspended some Filipino imports and imposed fishing restrictions in the South China Sea.
Additionally, China and Vietnam also have strained relations due to their competing claims in the area. This tension has been exacerbated by Vietnam’s increasingly close ties with the United States and other Western countries.
International Reactions
The international community has largely taken a unified stance in opposing Chinese activities in the South China Sea.
In 2016, the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague concluded that China had violated the Philippines’ rights and that its claim to the area was unlawful. This ruling was seen as a strong rebuke to China and its actions in the area, with many countries expressing support for the ruling.
Conclusion
The dispute in the South China Sea is complex and far-reaching, with all of the countries involved having overlapping claims. Additionally, there have been concerns in recent years that China is seeking to solidify its claim to the region with a buildup of military assets, resulting in increased tensions between the countries involved.
The international community has largely taken a unified stance in opposing Chinese activities in the South China Sea, with a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague finding that China had violated the Philippines’ rights.
