South China Sea Dispute

                     

            South China Sea

                     Introduction:

Location:
                 South China Sea is a small body of water of the western Pacific Ocean in Southeast Asia. It is located in the South of China (that's why called South China Sea), east and south of Vietnam, west of the Philippines and North of the Island of Borneo. It is bounded by the southern part of the Gulf of Thailand and east coast of the Malay.

Area :
            It covers 6 km² area, composed of 3.5 milllion sq km patch of water.

Islands:
               It consist of about 250 tiny and low Islands.

                
                          Southeast Asia

 History :
                 In 1421, Zheng He (a Chinese explorer and mariner) prepared the "Zheng He's Navigation Map", which included South China Sea Islands.

The area was undisputed over its sovereignty until 1930. During WW2 many of the Islands were captured by the Japanese. But after Her defeat, the Japanese withdrew from the region.

When the People Republic of China (PRC) was founded in 1949, it immediately claimed sovereignty over the Islands of South China Sea, and included it as a part of the southern coastal province Guangdong and later small Hainan province.

Importance :       
                       Some reasons that make this particular territory crucial;

1. It is a massive shipping passage of approximately 5.3 Trillion Dollars worth trade each year. It is 1/3 of all maritime trade that depicts how economically important it is. Countries like China, Philippines, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are dependent on the passage for International trade.

2. Secondly, vast natural resources like crude oil and natural gase lies beneath the sea bed. US and China have different perspectives about the amount of natural resources in the south china sea.

US estimation :
                            According to American calculations it contain 11 billion barrels crude oil and 190 trillion cubic feet natural gase.

Chinese estimation :
                                      It contain 125 billion barrels oil and 500 trillion cubic feet gase.

3. It is also a vital sea food source , accounting for 10 percent of the world fishries.                   
               
                    South China Sea
                            Dispute

In the current situation this territory is overshaded with the clouds of disputes. Many southeast Asian countries claiming over the sovereignty of  some part or whole of the territory. That's why for many years this territory is on the brink of any major conflict. It has became a bone of contention between two dogs. If not resolved in time then may become a serious threat to International peace.

Countries involved
    In the dispute :
                                 China, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Taiwan are directly involved in the dispute while US indirectly. Except China, all of these countries claimed over some part of the territory that is near to their coastal lines. China which claim 90 percent of the territory, is continuously busy in capturing, building artificial islands, and military bases over them.

              
            South China Sea claims map

Chinese reclaimation
     Of the Islands:
                                 Since 2014 China have reclaimed about 3000 acres Islands. China present 9 dash line as a historical evidence to the international community in order to prove Her legitimacy over the territory.    Nine dash line is undefined demarcation line used by the People Republic of China and Republic of China (Taiwan), for their claims of major parts of South China Sea. China give a colour of civil and defence needs to its reclaimations and expansion in the south china sea. China have always aggressive policy and motives in the case of South China Sea claims. Chinese Navy usually conduct naval exercises in the disputed region. Her motive is to suppress the other opponents. Which show the  response by conducting military exercises in the region with allies.

             
             
               9-dash line in red colour

Satellite pictures of
Chinese Artificial 
Islands

                

                


Chinese Naval
Exercises.

               

   

Chinese Type 054A Destroyer during naval exercise in South China Sea  

        

                
Chinese Navy fleet in action during exercise in South China Sea                      


Why South China
Sea is significant 
for China?
                      We aldready know that South China Sea is enriched with natural resources and important maitime trade route. China consumes about 4.5 barrels oil per year. Taking control over South China Sea will provide opportunity to own enormous volume of oil and gas to satisfy her energy needs for several decades. As the territory is  enriched with fish, so her fishing industry will also grow.

International Law
                                   According to International Law of Sea UN, every country have the legitimacy to control 12 NM from its coast as territory.  Moreover a country can claim Exclusive Economic Zone of 200 NM for Fishing, mining etc.
In 2016 International Court have voted against China that it have no legal rights to claim over the territory within 9-dash line.

             

US-China
Tentions                     

                
  USS Carl Vinson in South China Sea         

 US usually intervene in the disputed region due to some personal interests. He conduct naval exercises with allies to suppress Chinese influence in the region. Due to which sometimes the tention rises between the two rivals. Recently US have issued some hard statements against the Chinese claims in the region. On July 13 2020, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gave online statement "The world will not allow Beijing to treat South China Sea as its maritime empire. This statement father escalate the tentions in the disputed region. In the early July 3, 2 US Navy aircraft carriers and 4 other warahips conducted exercises in the region. In response China held its own military drill near the Paracel Islands (off Vietnam). Beijing called Pompeo's latest statement groundless. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian blamed the US statement of neglecting the history and facts about the issues concerned with the South China Sea dispute. He further added that China have no intentions to establish a maritime empire in the region and treats the surrounding counties equally in the South China Sea.

               


Solution
(Personal Opinion)
                                    It comes huge obligation on the shoulders of International Court of Justice to resolve the dispute without any further delay in order to avoid any unwelcome consequences.

1. The prominent solution is to solve the dispute through mutual negotiations in a peaceful environment. The contestant countries should actively take part to find solution for the issue through mutual cooperation.

2. If not possible then through mediation. ICJ can play the role of mediator.

3. And if these doesn't work then through arbitration and conciliation

                   Thanks