Efforts to Solve The Disputes in the South China Sea
There is a combination of diplomatic, legal, and multilateral approaches that tried to resolve the disputes in the South China Sea (SCS). India has a keen commercial interest in the South China Sea (SCS). But India follows the policy and goes by the books. India will not involve itself in the disputes between sovereign nations at any cost.
Here are the major efforts taken to solve the South China Sea (SCS) dispute as mentioned below:
- Code of Conduct (CoC): The official talks between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). They tried to establish a CoC to manage the situation. However, progress was slow due to internal disputes and China’s huge claims.
- Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DoC): ASEAN and China adopted the DoC in 2002. It affirms that their commitment to peaceful dispute resolution will be conducted according to international law.
- Arbitral Proceedings: The Philippines initiated arbitral proceedings in 2013 against China under UNCLOS.
- The U.S. Navy conducts regular FONOPs to challenge excessive maritime claims and maintain the peaceful resolution of disputes.
Disputes in the South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, covering an area of about 3.5 million square kilometres. It is bordered by several countries in East and Southeast Asia, such as China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines, each of which has competing claims over the sea and its resources. China’s big claims in the South China Sea, which cover not just the land but also the waters nearby, have made other countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei really upset. These other countries also say they own certain islands and parts of the sea, like the Paracels and the Spratlys.
To support its claims, China has been building islands and sending its navy around. The US says it doesn’t pick sides in these arguments, but it has been sending military ships and planes close to disputed islands to show that ships can freely move around there. Even though Japan doesn’t have direct interests in the South China Sea, it helps countries like Vietnam and the Philippines with ships and military stuff. People are worried that all this tension could lead to big problems globally, like a major conflict.
In this article, we will explore about the disputes in the South China Sea, about historical, legal, and geopolitical aspects of the South China Sea and the conflicts that arise from it.
Table of Content
- Background of Disputes in the South China Sea
- Important Details about the South China Sea
- Geography of South China Sea (SCS)
- Economic Importance of South China Sea (SCS)
- The South China Sea (SCS) – Countries, Islands and Island Chains
- Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea
- Role of India in Disputes in the South China Sea
- Efforts to Solve The Disputes in the South China Sea
- Summary – Disputes in the South China Sea