So what is the South China Sea?
The sea contains enormous deposits of oil and natural gas, something that plays a huge part in the significance of the waters in general. So far, 7.7 billion barrels of proven oil have been discovered, that is, oil that is commercially recoverable. However, another 28 billion barrels are estimated to lie under the sea, though it is unclear whether they would be financially beneficial to extract. There are also 7,500km³ of natural gas reserves estimated to be in the area. As energy reserves in other locations around the world are beginning to run low, the South China Sea is of incredible importance to neighbouring nations.
Another factor which makes the South China Sea so significant is that it is the second most used sea lane in the entire world. Half of all global shipping passes through these waters annually, including 10 million barrels of oil a day, which are shipped through the region.
Those who have an interest in the environment and biology would also appreciate the fact that the sea contains about 30% of the world's marine biodiversity. For thousands of years the area has been fished by people groups from neighbouring areas, which has recently resulted in the near depletion of fish stocks.
it is clear then why the South China Sea and the islands within it are very desirable to the nations surrounding them. Control over the sea gives access to both large deposits of oil and natural gas, as well as jurisdiction over shipping which passes through the region.
Who claims the South China Sea?
The Spratly and Paracel Island chains are 'conveniently' located off the coast of several nations, placing them within their respective territorial claims. However, all six neighbouring nations have extended their territorial claims beyond the UNCLOS 200 nautical mile Economic Exclusion Zone, which limits the amount of water a country can claim beyond its coast according to international law. These claims have been adjusted to include as much of the Spratly and Paracel islands as reasonably possible for each nation. However, this has resulted in several overlapping claims, which has caused a large scale international dispute.
The most notable conflicting claim is China's. China claims all of the Spratly and Paracel islands for itself. The closest of the Spratly islands to China is over 900 km away from the Chinese island of Hainan and yet is still claimed by China. China's water claim also extends as far as to almost touch the coastline of Malaysia and Brunei.
China, however, a isn't the only offender. Both Vietnam and the Philippines have extended their territorial claims well beyond the 200 nautical mile zone. Malaysia and Brunei have also extended their claims, however they are far less extreme.
But claiming and owning are two separate things, and this can be seen in no better a place in the world than in the South China Sea. China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan and Malaysia have each occupied several islands within their territorial claims, and have employed their respective armed forces to protect these areas. If the situation wasn't tense enough with so many overlapping territorial claims, it has been made far worse by the military presence in the region.
Recent Chinese developments.
Whilst not capable of accommodating full military units, these new islands will easily be able to sustain local sea and air patrols, as well as further tighteninng Chinese control over the region. Essentially, the larger the Chinese military presence in the area is, the easier it is for it to assert its claims and sovereignty.
However it is important to note that the Chinese are not the only ones reclaiming reefs in the area. Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam have expanded islands under their control, but on a completely smaller scale to China. However, this has caused a lot of tension with China, since China considers all of these islands to be under their jurisdiction, even if not currently under their own control.
Since China believes almost all of the South China Sea to be its own, it believes that any military activity within the area is a violation of Chinese territory, and an act of aggression. This belief is what is causing even more tension in the area, since the United States and its allies consider the sea to be well within international waters.
American naval exercises.
China allows commercial shipping to pass through its claimed ocean, but does not permit unauthorised military access through the region. This directly conflicts with the opinion of the United States, who maintains that most of the South China Sea is in fact international water, allowing them to use it for military purposes. This caused a recent debacle when a US warship sailed within 12 nautical miles of an artificial Chinese island, which severely damaged US-Chinese relations and could have resulted in a military clash between the two global powers.
However, this has not stopped the United States from conducting further military activities in the region, as it is currently holding what is called a "Freedom of Navigation Exercise" or FON Exercise. The concept is that the US may conduct military maneuvers in what it deems international waters without interference or harassment from other nations. Obviously, like the previously mentioned incident, China is not pleased, but it will most likely be forced to tolerate these actions or face a serious clash with the US.
So how important is the South China Sea?
The ongoing dispute will be something to watch in the future as it will heavily influence regional affairs and power balances, and may even lead to a clash between nations within the area. Not to mention, China is directly challenging US naval and global superiority, which in itself will prove to be hugely significant in deciding the future superpower(s) of the world.
Hugh McFarlane