SOUTH CHINA SEA

2. China's South China Sea Escalation

• Amid the global pandemic, China is intensifying its presence in the South China Sea, particularly focusing on the disputed Spratly Islands and Paracel Islands.
• This move has raised concerns among neighbouring countries, such as Vietnam and the Philippines, who also claim sovereignty over these territories.
• China has unilaterally renamed 80 islands and geographical features in the South China Sea, a controversial action that has drawn criticism from neighbouring nations.
• This renaming effort exacerbates the ongoing territorial dispute and has the potential to strain diplomatic relations in the Asia-Pacific region.
• The Spratly Islands dispute involves China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia, all vying for control over this archipelago and its surrounding features.
• Although these islands are largely uninhabited, they are believed to harbour significant untapped natural resources.
• However, due to the dispute, exploration and resource assessment efforts remain limited.

3. Historical Background

• The discovery of oil near the Palawan coast in the 1970s further fueled territorial claims, even though some reports suggest limited oil and gas reserves in the region.
• This historical context underscores the complexity of the Spratly Islands dispute.
• The Paracel Islands dispute is equally complex, with China and Vietnam both laying historical claims to this archipelago.
• Historical texts from various periods, including colonial-era records, have been cited to support these conflicting claims.
• Tensions escalated in 1974 when China took control of the islands, sparking a prolonged dispute involving Vietnam and, later, Taiwan.

Image Source: Forbes

4. Contemporary Developments

• Since 2012, China, Taiwan, and Vietnam have pursued various strategies to bolster their territorial claims, including constructing government buildings, promoting tourism, reclaiming land, and expanding military presence on these islands.
• China's recent establishment of new administrative districts in both the Spratly and Paracel Islands prompted the Chinese government to rename numerous geographical features.
• This move is reminiscent of a similar initiative in 1983 when China renamed 287 features in the disputed region.
• China's increased military activity and the creation of artificial islands for military and economic purposes in the South China Sea have raised concerns among neighbouring countries and Western powers.
• Recent incidents, such as the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing trawler near the Paracel Islands and the construction of Chinese research stations on disputed Philippine territory, have further inflamed tensions.

5.What is the dispute between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea?

• The dispute between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea primarily revolves around territorial claims, maritime boundaries, and access to resources.
• China claims a significant portion of the South China Sea, demarcated by what's known as the "nine-dash line," a boundary that encompasses about 90% of the sea, overlapping with claims by several other nations, including the Philippines.
• The Philippines contests China's claims, particularly in areas that fall within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and territorial waters as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• Tensions escalated due to China's construction of artificial islands and military installations in disputed waters, which the Philippines and other neighboring countries view as a violation of their sovereignty and a threat to regional stability.
• The Philippines filed a case against China in 2013 with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, challenging the legality of China's claims based on UNCLOS.
• In 2016, the PCA ruled in favor of the Philippines, declaring that China's claims had no legal basis. However, China has consistently rejected the ruling, asserting historical rights over the South China Sea.
• Despite the ruling, the situation remains contentious, with ongoing diplomatic efforts and occasional confrontations between the two countries' vessels in the region

6.What is the nine-dash line?

• The nine-dash line is a demarcation line used by China to outline its territorial claims in the South China Sea. It's a U-shaped boundary that encompasses about 90% of the South China Sea, covering various islands, reefs, atolls, and waters.
• Originally, the nine-dash line was drawn by the Republic of China (ROC, now Taiwan) in the late 1940s to illustrate its territorial claims over the South China Sea. After the Chinese Civil War, when the Communist Party took control of mainland China in 1949, the People's Republic of China (PRC) continued to uphold this demarcation.
• However, the line's legal basis and specifics have been ambiguous. It has never been clearly defined, and China has not provided precise coordinates or explanations for its claim. The line overlaps with the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and territorial waters of several Southeast Asian nations, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. This has led to territorial disputes and heightened tensions in the region.
• The international community, including the United States and many other countries, does not recognize China's nine-dash line claim as valid under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which outlines maritime entitlements and territorial claims based on geographical features and historical rights.

7. Conclusion

• The South China Sea remains a highly volatile region, with the potential for further diplomatic tensions and military escalations.
• The ongoing territorial disputes, fueled by historical claims and concerns over natural resources, pose a significant challenge to stability in the Asia-Pacific region and require careful diplomatic efforts to find peaceful resolutions.

 

For Prelims: South China Sea, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands,  For Mains:  1. Discuss the historical background of the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. How have historical claims contributed to the complexity of the issue? (250 Words)

 

 

Previous Year Questions   1. The South China Sea Dispute involves which of the following countries?  (CDS GK  2019) 1. China 2. Vietnam 3. Malaysia 4. Indonesia Select the correct answer using the code given below.  A. 1 and 4           B. 1 and 2 only           C. 1, 2 and 3          D. 2, 3 and 4   Answer: C   2. Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news? (UPSC CSE 2022) A. It is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around South China Sea. B. China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea. C. A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defence capabilities. D. Though International Court of Justice declared them as no man's land, some South-East Asian countries claim them.   Answer: B

 

Source: The Indian Express