South China Sea in search for a solution

Beyond Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea, 2013

The South China Sea ranks among the most geographically and geopolitically complex ocean spaces in the world. It certainly appears to have been one of its most vigorously contested, featuring multiple, longstanding and competing territorial and maritime jurisdictional claims. The objective of this chapter is to provide the geographical and geopolitical background to the frequently conflicting national maritime claims made by the South China Sea littoral States. This exercise is designed to provide the necessary contextual backdrop to considerations of the application of maritime joint development mechanisms and/or other provisional arrangements of a practical nature in the South China Sea. With this in mind, key characteristics of the coastal geography of the South China Sea are outlined, notably the implications of its semienclosed nature and the baselines that have been defined along its coasts. The insular features of the South China Sea, many of which are subject to conflicting sovereignty claims, are then examined with particular reference to their potential maritime claims and role in the delimitation of maritime boundaries. The chapter then outlines the maritime jurisdictional claims of the South China Sea coastal States, including existing maritime boundary agreements and maritime joint development zones, as well as unilateral and historical maritime claims. Accordingly, a spatial picture of the maritime geography of the South China Sea including the locations and extents of claims to maritime jurisdiction is built up. The chapter then proceeds to highlight the main geopolitical factors that arguably serve as key drivers for the South China Sea disputes. These include longstanding yet still powerful sovereignty imperatives, significant and growing marine resource interests and energy security concerns, crucial navigational and maritime trade considerations and evolving military and strategic factors.

2025

Description: The South China Sea stands as a pivotal maritime region, exerting significant influence on international relations and global geopolitics. The region’s geopolitics are an intricate web of historical, political, and strategic factors. A thorough analysis of the region's dynamics may also inform the impact of rising powers. Therefore, understanding of the South China Sea may lead to a better understanding of the broader context of international relations and global security. Geopolitics of the South China Sea: Power Struggle in Asia provides an exhaustive analysis of the South China Sea's geopolitical importance, elucidating the complex and dynamic interplay among the littoral states and other global powers with vested interests in the region. Covering topics such as conflict de-escalation, international law, and international visibility, this book is an excellent resource for political scientists, government officials, diplomats, policymakers, professionals, researchers, scholars, academicians, and more. Coverage: The many academic areas covered in this publication include, but are not limited to: Australia’s Policy Conflict De-escalation Energy Geopolitics India’s Power Struggle International Law International Visibility Malaysia’s Policy Maritime Dynamics Peacebuilding Philippines’ Politics South China Sea Policy Systemic World Order Taiwan’s Claim Unites States Policy Vietnam’s Strategic Partnership

Security Dialogue, 2003

This article investigates whether the South China Sea is a source of internal disagreement or unity in ASEAN. It argues that when the focus is on the possibilities of cooperation beyond what is necessary for regional peace and stability, five different member-state groupings can be identified according to their outlook on the desirable level of US and Chinese regional engagement, their support for a dialogue focusing on Sino-Southeast Asian cooperation and their views on the scope of a code of conduct. By contrast, when addressing the prospects of coexistence, unity prevails within ASEAN. The memberstates are in agreement that Southeast Asia cannot opt out of the structure of deterrence that is consolidated between the USA and China. In addition, they agree that a practice of consultation and a conservative code of conduct between Southeast Asia and China will contribute to peace and stability by offering assurance that pending disputes in the South China Sea will be settled by the indigenous powers through peaceful means and will remain separate from the outer structure of strategic competition.

2021

DOI: 10.25041/lajil.v3i1.2266 The South China Sea is a strategic marine area in terms of natural resource potential and international trade routes. For decades, territorial disputes have occurred with peaceful solutions from regional organizations, international courts, and even contributions from outside the claimant state. This paper examines the efforts made to contribute to a peaceful solution to disputed states of claims. The achievement of a peaceful solution, the shortcomings of the peaceful solution to the proposed peaceful solution's chronology. This research is normative juridical research that is historical descriptive in nature. The South China Sea Dispute arises from China's actions regarding its map of its maritime territories that do not comply with international maritime law. Regulations regarding the method of drawing deep-sea boundaries under international maritime law are violated in this act. Negotiation efforts in finding conflict solutions in regional o...

KMI International Journal of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, 2010

The South China Sea provides a critical passage to a significant volume of global seaborne trade and a lifeline for East Asian economies which depend on energy imports from the Middle East. The Sea also features stunning mega biodiversity and rich fishing ground and is believed to contain prolific deposits of hydrocarbon energy resources. Several nations in the region are involved in overlapping territorial claims in the Sea. Some claimants have defended their interests in a vigorous manner which have led to conflicts and in the Sea. It is feared that if not managed and settled amicably, these claims may turn the Sea into a flashpoint that will threaten regional prosperity and stability. This paper highlights the economic and strategic importance of this strategic body of water as a prelude to discussing the overlapping claims by several nations on parts of the sea. It warns against overzealous acts by nations to stake their claims that may pose a threat to security, stability and prosperity in the region and may invite the presence of outside powers keen to capitalize on such situation. It strongly advocates using trade and economic development as a common denominators to foster cooperation among the nations as a way to ease tension arising from their claims in the sea. The paper recommends several policy optionsincluding introducing a binding Code of Conduct, exploring joint exploration and increasing cooperation in are s such as navigation safety and resource managementtowards making the Sea a platform of prosperity for its littoral nations.

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2012

China, ASEAN and the US remain the most significant players in the South China Sea. Relationships among the triangle set the tone for the situation in the South China Sea. In recent years, action-reaction cycle in the South China Sea has increased tension in the region, deteriorated relations between China and its neighboring countries, posed challenges for ASEAN in maintaining centrality in the regional security structure, and strengthened US determination to "rebalance" toward Asia. The South China Sea issue has become the bellwether for how China will rise peacefully and play by established rules, a test case for the US in sustaining its supremacy in the region and a challenger for ASEAN unity. This paper will explore the interests and policy of China, ASEAN and the US in the South China Sea, analyze the interrelationships within the triangle in recent years and envisage its implications for regional stability.

The area of the South China Sea is one of the most contested regions in the world, with six countries claiming sovereignty over portions of the sea and China-Taiwan claiming sovereignty over all the region. Compounding complicated issues related to geographic sovereignty and the Law of the Sea are requirements for economic growth and sustainment influenced heavily by the varied demography and geology of the region. Along with these issues is the requirement of the countries within the region to balance the rising local power of China against the distant super power of the United States. All of which is exacerbated by the possible mineral and oil and natural gas reserves yet undiscovered in Deepwater, reserves which have the potential to provide the low-cost local energy critical to continued economic expansion of China and her seven neighbors in the region. This paper will provide insight into the interplay between sovereignty, natural resources, demography and power within the area of the South China Sea and provide projections as to the possibility of limited or general war in the region.

Power Shifts in East Asia and Their Implications for Asia-Europe Relations

Forming the maritime heart of SE Asia, the South China Sea has grown in recent years into one of the most important geopolitical areas in the world. The conflict over seemingly insignificant archipelagos has many aspects, and, like a lens, focuses the rivalry of modern powers. The territorial dispute over the Spratly and Paracel Islands is the primary level of conflict, with prestigious and economic meaning. Another aspect is the striving for control over the regional Sea Lanes of Communication. The point here is not only the transport of goods from east Asia to Europe and Africa, but also of oil and natural gas supply from the Persian Gulf. The next aspect is related to Sino-American relations and rivalry. An equally important facet is the internal politics of the PRC, which is one of the causes of an assertive foreign policy. The CPC has become hostage to its own nationalist rhetoric. There is also a broader international level of the dispute. Countries such as Australia, India and Japan have to a greater or lesser extent joined the conflict as an element of their China policy. The South China Sea unexpectedly found its place in Russian-Chinese relations, and interest in the situation in the region is also expressed by France and the United Kingdom. All these aspects form an image of a very complex and dynamic conflict of growing importance.

Maritime Affairs: Journal of the National Maritime Foundation of India, 2014

Globalization push the pressures of development towards countries in this modern time. Economic and political activites are merged into division of interest that interlinked between a lot of countries. To no one surprise, the manifestation of this issue may lead into a translation of authority especially when it directly contributes to country’s empowerment. We witnessed the fight in World War I and II, the competition through industrial revolution, the insecurites in cold war era and many more, in which most of these activities exposed the will of country to establish their better projection as a country. This is where South China Sea become one the dispute strangling around the previous narratives. In his new book, Robert D. Kaplan tries to digest the hot conflicts in South China Sea through “Asia’s Cauldron: The South China Sea and The End of A Stable Pacific. Kaplan is no stranger to geographical-conflict book proven by his other amazing works through The Revenge of Geography and The Coming Anarchy.