What’s behind the South China Sea dispute? | Start Here
Al Jazeera English・6 minutes read
China's ambitions for naval dominance in the South China Sea, driven by economic interests, face opposition from neighboring countries and the US. Tensions rise as China asserts its territorial claims through military bases, challenging international law and sparking concerns of military conflicts in the region.
Insights
- China's pursuit of naval dominance in the South China Sea is driven by its need to secure vital resources for its economy, challenging the historical land-based power dynamics of the region and sparking opposition from neighboring countries and the US.
- The strategic importance of the South China Sea, symbolized by China's "nine-dash line" claim, is evident in the vast trade volume passing through the area annually, valued at $3 trillion. Tensions rise as China builds military bases on disputed islands, leading to legal disputes and efforts by ASEAN countries to establish a Code of Conduct to manage conflicts.
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Recent questions
Why is the South China Sea important?
Resources, trade routes, and strategic control.
What is China's goal in the South China Sea?
Naval dominance and resource security.
How does China assert its claim in the South China Sea?
Through military bases and territorial disputes.
What efforts have been made to manage tensions in the South China Sea?
Establishment of a Code of Conduct by ASEAN countries.
How does the US challenge China's claims in the South China Sea?
Through naval exercises and legal disputes.
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Summary
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China's South China Sea Ambitions and Tensions
- The South China Sea is a region rich in oil, gas, and fish, with busy shipping lanes. China aims to control it, facing opposition from other countries and the US due to its strategic importance for trade routes.
- China, historically a land-based power, now seeks naval dominance in the Indian and Pacific Oceans to secure resources for its economy. This ambition drives its desire to control the South China Sea, contested by neighboring countries and the US.
- China's claim over the South China Sea is symbolized by the "nine-dash line" drawn in 1929, expanded to include Taiwan in 2013. The region's significance is highlighted by the vast amount of trade passing through it, valued at $3 trillion annually.
- Tensions escalate as China asserts its territorial claim by constructing military bases on disputed islands, while the US challenges this through naval exercises in the region. Efforts to enforce international law, like the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, have led to legal disputes, with China's claims being invalidated by a court ruling.
- ASEAN countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines, have attempted to establish a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea to manage China's ambitions. However, differing interests within ASEAN and China's assertiveness continue to fuel tensions in the region, raising concerns about potential military conflicts.
