The South China Sea is a strategic passage between Asia and the rest of the world. Today,
the South China Sea plays a huge part in the global trade but is also a space of military influence.
Countries such as China and the United States of America are trying to take advantage of the benefits of the region.
History and background of territorial claims in the South China Sea
China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia argue over the possessions of islands in the South China Sea. Since minerals have been found in the South China Sea, China is fighting to own these territories. In 2009 , the Chinese government has extenuated some documents from the XVIe century, in order to prove that islands around China have always been their. This document called the « Geng Lu bu » is a navigation guide, describing the main islands in the South China Sea as Chinese.
China has delimited what they claim “Nine-dash-line”, an imaginary line surpassing its exclusive economic zone. This line includes Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, Pratas Islands and the Scarborough Shoal.
Maritime security and economic challenges
The key players are looking to control three kinds of wealth coming from this area : the commercial route, fishing, and fossil energy like petrol and methane clathrate. The South China Sea represents 3 times the Suez Canal trade and 1/4 of the international traffic. China uses this route to import coal from Vietnam and to export raw material to Africa. More importantly, the Strait of Malacca represents 25 % of international traffic, 50 % of the oil exchanges and 90 % of the Chinese trade.
Furthermore, the importance of the South China Sea can also be understood by its military aspect. The United States of America occupies military bases to prevent any actions from China. Four more bases were added to the five bases already implanted in the Philippines since the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. A situation despised by China fearing for its influence on the island. The United States of America is looking for its safety by occupying the Pacific. The international community also fears for Taiwan’s new technologies being withdraw from worldwide trade.
While the United States are monitoring what is China dealing with the island Spratly, the People’s Republic of China is being accused of building artificial islands to improve it influence in the South China Sea. This area is a permanent tension and a projection of power from the United States. With operation such as FONOP in order to upheld the rights and international law.
If China can’t afford a war in the South China Sea, for economic reasons, The People’s Republic of China follows a surveillance and harassment politic by controlling every ship coming into its area. This politic is especially against Filipinos, Indonesians and Vietnamese fishing boats. China is also in a fight of word with Vietnam over oil and gas exploration and threaten a “military attack”.
South China Sea dispute : impact for the future
In 2016, the International Criminal Court in The Hague found China has no historical claim in The South China Sea and gave them wrong in the Sea dispute. The tribunal has rejected the “nine-dash line” of China policy and has given rights to the Philippines, recalling their rights on their exclusive economic zone. In addition of that, China has signed in 1982 the Montego Bay Convention. Recognizing the 200 miles property in the sea of other countries.
Regulation challenges are so important that Australia, India, Canada and Japan are preparing to lead patrols in the South China Sea. Their goal, alongside the United States, is to prevent China from definitely controlling this area.
