The South China Sea is one of the world’s busiest waterways and a major commercial and maritime marine hub. Maritime and island claims by different sovereign governments in the region make up the South China Sea conflicts. China, Brunei, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia are the countries involved in these disputes, and they are all located in the Indo-Pacific region.
Recent updates:
- China has made headlines for unilaterally altering the ground situation in the South China Sea. It is busily expanding its foothold in the SCS in the midst of the global coronavirus outbreak. It approved the creation of two districts in the South China Sea to oversee the disputed Paracel and Spratly Islands.
- Beijing had already given new names to 25 islands or reefs and 55 underwater entities in the South China Sea in an attempt to reassert its control in the area.
What is the dispute in the South China Sea?
The Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, and maritime limits in the Gulf of Tonkin are among the areas of controversy. The waters around the Indonesian Natuna Islands are also up for grabs. The acquisition of fishing grounds around the two archipelagos, suspected crude oil and natural gas in various sections of the South China Sea, and control of strategically significant shipping lanes are the reasons why these territories are disputed and of importance to the interested nations.
History:
- Despite historical documents showing that France owned several of those islands before their colonial possessions fell into the hands of the Japanese, the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy exploited several islands for military purposes and claimed that they were unclaimed during World War II. Following the war’s conclusion, the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco required Imperial Japan to relinquish whatever territory it had seized during the conflict. During the 1951 treaty negotiations, the People’s Republic of China made a number of claims to the islands.
- The nine-dash line is used to describe Chinese claims in the South China Sea. The Kuomintang government of the Republic of China first designated this line in 1947 as a “eleven-dashed-line” for their claims to the South China Sea. The line was accepted and altered to nine dashes/dots, as authorised by Zhou Enlai, when the Communist Party of China took control of mainland China and created the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Based on the nine-dotted line map, China’s rights in the South China Sea islands were stated in a 1958 proclamation. Some PRC government officials and the PRC military see the nine-dash line’s legacy as giving historical backing for their claims to the South China Sea.
- The 1954 Geneva Accords, which brought an end to the First Indochina War, handed South Vietnam authority of Vietnamese areas south of the 17th Parallel, including the Paracel and Spratly Islands. Two years later, the North Vietnamese government claimed the islands for the People’s Republic of China, while South Vietnam seized control of the Paracel Islands.
Countries Affected by the South China Sea Conflict:
- China maintains that ancient historical documents demonstrate that China controlled the entire river and that the issue began only in the current period. China also expresses legal concerns and asserts rights in the South China Sea. China, on the other hand, has been unable to establish its claim to the territory.
- Vietnam: The country asserts its claims on the basis of inheritance. After its relations with China deteriorated, Vietnam only raised its claim in the 1970s.
- Malaysia asserts that a feature in the southern Spratley falls within Malaysia’s continental border, making their claim valid.
- Indonesia claims just the area of the sea that falls inside its exclusive special economic zones.
- Philippines: The country’s claims are based on historical evidence. They just want the portion of the land that is within their exclusive economic zone.
- Brunei’s claims are based on the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Causes:
- The main source of contention is different territories’ claims to the sea and the sea’s territorial demarcation.
- For the various territories, the sea is regarded to be a key source of natural resources.
- It provides around 10% of the country’s fishery, making it a vital source of food for hundreds of people. This is also one of the main reasons why people from many countries are claiming ownership of the sea.
- Islands and rocks have often been a source of contention. Countries claim ownership of several islands, making it more difficult for countries to trade through this canal because their commerce ships may be seized.
- Exclusive economic zones (EEZ) exist, and these zones typically overlap for different regions in the case of aquatic bodies.
The South China Sea Dispute’s Consequences
- The South China Sea Dispute has had a negative impact on the territories involved in the dispute, as well as other countries that trade with them. It is one of the most significant trading routes, and it is critical to resolve the South China Sea conflict so that the country’s commerce and economic activities are not hampered.
- Furthermore, because it has extensive security responsibilities in East Asia and is allied with several nations bordering the South China Sea, such as the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam, the United States is playing a critical role in resolving the conflict. As a result, any disagreement between them will have a direct impact on the United States.
India’s Role in the South China Sea Conflict
- India has risen to a greater place at the global high table as a result of the ‘Look East’ policy, as evidenced by a joint statement released by the US and Indian governments in September 2014, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the US. “The concerned parties are urged to pursue peaceful resolution of their territorial and maritime issues by implementing internationally accepted principles of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” the joint statement said.
- “Affirmed the significance of protecting maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the area, particularly in the South China Sea,” the joint statement said.
- Following the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s recent decision, this is an opportune opportunity for India to state that it believes in global commons and freedom of navigation. India has properly refused to come out in ‘open’ support of the tribunal’s decision, as such support could jeopardise India’s efforts to acquire membership in the NSG, which requires China’s backing.
- In the South China Sea (SCS), India has a genuine commercial interest. However, India has a policy of not intervening in disputes between sovereign nations.
- In the South China Sea, India has been concerned about the security of its commercial flows and energy interests. Vietnam has offered India seven oil areas in the South China Sea, a move that has angered China. Brunei has also struck energy agreements with India.
- The Malacca Strait, which is part of the South China Sea, sees a large percentage of international trade flow through it. The Strait of Malacca, which opens into the South China Sea, carries 55 percent of India’s trade. If China gains control of the region, it will disrupt global trade patterns, affecting countries like India directly. Any aggressive action by China might stymie India’s international trade through the region. As a result, India has a vested interest in the region’s freedom of navigation.
Way forward:
- To resolve the conflicts peacefully, the region’s claimants must be ready to give up their combative approach and agree to establish a middle ground, even if it means sacrificing some of their rights.
- Following the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, all claimants may be limited to the territories of the Special Economic Zone within 200 nautical miles (UNCLOS). By accepting such a proposal, the claimants can also agree to leave international waters open to free navigation.
- Another option is for the parties to create common ownership of the disputed areas, with all profits from the South China Sea being divided evenly among the littoral countries.
- Another option would be for the contesting countries to lay out their claims in detail and have a neutral party decide based on the UNCLOS or other relevant international laws.
- China has presented a bilateral discussion point of view, but the other countries have rejected it. This is because other countries believe China may have an unspoken advantage in the distribution of the water body due to its size.
- Although ASEAN has been active in resolving the conflict, no conclusion has been reached. However, settling the disagreement has grown critical because it is impacting global trade and is posing a security threat to the United States.
MCQs for practice:
- Consider the following statements about South China Sea:
- China claims South China Sea on eight dash line.
- China claims it on basis of historical basis.
- Beijing had already given new names to 25 islands or reefs and 55 underwater entities in the South China Sea
Select the correct option:
- 1 only
- 1&2 only
- 2&3 only
- All of the above
Correct answer: C
- China claims South China Sea on nine dash line.
- China claims it on basis of historical basis.
- Beijing had already given new names to 25 islands or reefs and 55 underwater entities in the South China Sea.
- Arrange the following countries from South to North:
- Indonesia
- Brunei
- Taiwan
- Cambodia
Select the correct option:
- 1243
- 1234
- 2341
- 1324
Correct answer: A