Brewing Tensions in the East and South China Seas
Brewing Tensions in the East and South China Seas
Sub: IR
Sec: Places in news
Why in News
Rising tensions in the East and South China Seas have once again come into focus due to China’s aggressive territorial claims. The disputes involve multiple countries in East Asia, with the U.S. increasingly drawn into the conflict. China’s activities, especially in the South China Sea, have caused regional tensions, and the involvement of the U.S. and its allies has added complexity to the issue.
About South China Sea:
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean that extends from the Strait of Malacca in the southwest, to the Strait of Taiwan in the northeast.
The littoral countries of the South China Sea are China, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The South China Sea is a busy international waterway, one of the main arteries of global trade worth more than $5 trillion and is growing year on year.
It is a rich source of hydrocarbons and natural resources.
The islands of the South China Sea can be grouped into two island chains:
The Paracels Islands: These are clustered in the northwest corner of the Sea.
The Spratly Islands: These are located in the southeast corner.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which came into force in 1994, established a legal framework intended to balance the economic and security interests of coastal states with those of seafaring nations.
While UNCLOS has been signed and ratified by nearly all the coastal countries in the South China Sea, based on their own interpretation of the UNCLOS, claimant countries started to legitimize their claims.
In 2002, ASEAN and China came together to sign the Declaration on the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to keep disputes away. However, it didn’t achieve the desired outcomes.
East China Sea
A part of the Pacific Ocean and is a marginal sea in the east of China.
Bordering Countries: South Korea, Japan, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People’s Republic of China.
Towards the south of it is the South China Sea and to the west is the Asian continent.
Connects with the Sea of Japan through the Korea Strait and opens to the north into the Yellow Sea.
China’s Aggressive Tactics
“Grey Zone” Operations: China uses non-traditional methods, such as deploying maritime militias, ramming vessels, and conducting aggressive manoeuvres at sea to assert its claims. These actions, though not openly warlike, are designed to shift the status quo.
Clashes with the Philippines: The Second Thomas Shoal and Sabina Shoal have been key points of conflict between China and the Philippines. Chinese vessels frequently disrupt Philippine resupply missions, raising tensions.
Regional Response to China’s Actions
Countries like Japan and the Philippines are ramping up their defence capabilities to counter China’s growing influence.
Countries like the Philippines are using media and publicizing Chinese vessel behaviour to counter China’s narrative.
Regional countries are deepening their defence cooperation with the U.S., with enhanced training, base access, and joint exercises.
IMPORTANT LOCATIONS:
About Senkaku islands:
Japan and China have a long-standing dispute over the Senkaku islands
It is group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea that are controlled by Japan but claimed by China and Taiwan, which refer to them as Diaoyu Dao and Diaoyutai, respectively.
The islands are close to strategically important shipping lanes, offer potential oil and natural gas resources, and are situated in rich fishing areas.
About Danjo Islands:
The Danjo Islands, the site of the latest incident, are a group of small islets also located in the East China Sea off Japan’s Nagasaki region.
About Sabina shoal:
Sabina shoal is a disputed atoll in the Spratly Islands of South China sea, claimed by China, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam
The shoal is located 140 km west of the Philippine Island of Palawan and about 1,200 km from Hainan Island, China’s nearest major landmass.
About Second Thomas Shoal
Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin Shoal (Philippines), is located in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
The shoal is claimed by China, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. It has been a focal point of regional tensions due to overlapping territorial claims.
It lies about 105 nautical miles west of the Philippine Island of Palawan and approximately 1,100 km from Hainan Island, China’s nearest major landmass.