Recently, tension surfaced in the South China Sea when China issued a warning to a USA warship that was sailing near the Paracel Islands, which are currently under dispute. The USA has defended this action by asserting that such exercises align with international law and help secure the right of passage through the region.
Claims Over the South China Sea
China claims ownership of nearly all of the South China Sea, including the Paracel Islands. However, several other countries — Taiwan, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam — also claim parts of the region due to its rich oil and gas deposits. In this recent incident, China accused the USA of infringing upon its sovereignty and disrupting regional peace by intruding into China’s Xisha (Paracel) Island’s territorial waters without permission.
Geographic Context of the South China Sea
The South China Sea forms an arm of the western Pacific Ocean in Southeast Asia. It shares borders with the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam. Its strategic position as a link between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean (through the Strait of Malacca) makes it incredibly significant geopolitically.
Strategic Importance of the South China Sea
The South China Sea holds significant strategic importance due to its location. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) states that one-third of global shipping passes through this region, accounting for trillions in trade goods.
Disputes Over the South China Sea
The South China Sea has been the subject of several disputes, mostly due to conflicting claims over its islands–Paracel, Spratly, and Scarborough Shoal. Since 2010, China has been converting uninhabited islets into artificial ones to claim them under UNCLOS, altering their size and structure in the process.
Other Complications and Disputes
The South China Sea dispute is further complicated due to undefined geographic scope, disagreements over dispute settlement mechanisms, and the unclear legal status of the Code of Conduct (COC). The different histories surrounding the sea’s distant, largely uninhabited archipelagos add another layer of complexity.
India’s Stance on the South China Sea Dispute
India has clarified that it is not directly involved in the SCS dispute and its activities in the region are aimed solely at safeguarding its economic interests, particularly with regard to energy security. However, in response to China’s increasingly assertive stance, India has had to reassess its approach. As part of its Act East Policy, India has begun internationalizing disputes in the Indo-Pacific region to counteract China’s aggressive tactics. Furthermore, India has utilized its Buddhist legacy to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian countries, and has also deployed its navy alongside Vietnam in the South China Sea. Lastly, India’s participation in the Quad initiative (a coalition consisting of India, USA, Japan, and Australia) is perceived by China as a containment strategy.