Tensions surged in the South China Sea as China’s military accused a U.S. Navy ship of unlawfully entering waters near the Second Thomas Shoal, an atoll central to recent maritime clashes. A representative from China’s Southern Theater of Operations denounced the U.S., claiming a significant disruption to regional peace and stability. The statement highlighted the United States’ encroachment in the South China Sea, citing it as a violation of China’s sovereignty.
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China is entangled in disputes with neighboring countries regarding its expansive territorial assertions in the South China Sea. These conflicts have been further intensified by the recent incident. The military spokesperson for China affirmed the continuous surveillance and trailing of the U.S. vessel, underscoring the troops’ high alert status to safeguard national sovereignty.
Simultaneously, the U.S. Navy reiterated its commitment to collaborating with allies and partners for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
U.S. Navy’s Defense
In response, the US Navy defended its actions, asserting that the USS Gabrielle Giffords, an Independence-class littoral combat ship, was engaged in routine operations within international waters in the South China Sea, aligning with established international law. Emphasizing a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, the U.S. Navy highlighted its continuous presence in the region through the 7th Fleet’s regular operations.
“The US Navy affirmed its unwavering dedication to collaborating with allies and partners, standing firm in support of a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.,” the US Navy responded.
In recent times, China has encountered Philippine vessels on multiple occasions and has raised objections to U.S. ships patrolling disputed regions.
According to China’s military, the U.S. vessel navigated into waters neighboring what China identifies as the Renai Reef, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands. The United Nations tribunal ruling in 2016 placed Second Thomas Shoal within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Significance of South China Sea
This region serves as a vital trade route linking Asia to Europe and Africa, boasting abundant natural resources beneath its waters. Approximately one-third of the world’s shipping, equivalent to a staggering US$3.37 trillion in international trade, navigates through these waters.
China heavily relies on the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca for around 80% of its oil imports. Moreover, the sea is believed to house substantial reservoirs of valuable resources, including oil and natural gas. According to the US Energy Information Administration, there are estimations of at least 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the area. Other projections suggest even higher figures, reaching up to 22 billion barrels of oil and 290 trillion cubic feet of gas.
What’s behind the South China Sea dispute?
The territorial disagreements in the South China Sea have a long history, but tensions have intensified in recent times. China’s extensive claims, asserting sovereignty over both landmasses and adjacent waters, have sparked discontent among rival claimants like Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Other countries have made claims on specific islands and zones within the sea, such as the Paracels and the Spratlys. China has supported its broad assertions through
activities like constructing artificial islands and conducting naval patrols. While the US maintains a stance of neutrality in these territorial conflicts, it has conducted military operations involving ships and aircraft near disputed islands, citing “freedom of navigation” as its rationale.
Despite lacking direct interests in the South China Sea, Japan has provided support in terms of ships and military equipment to claimant countries like Vietnam and the Philippines. Concerns loom over the potential escalation of tensions in this area, with possible far-reaching global ramifications.
Why are countries interested in these waters?
The South China Sea holds immense value as a crucial shipping lane. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, a substantial portion of global trade, approximately 21%, equivalent to $3.37 trillion, passed through these waters in 2016.
Moreover, these waters host abundant fishing grounds that sustain the livelihoods of millions in the region. Over half of the world’s fishing vessels operate within this area, making it a vital resource for the fishing industry.
Despite being sparsely populated, the Paracels and the Spratlys potentially contain natural resources. Limited exploration has been conducted in the region, but it’s believed that these areas might possess reserves of valuable minerals based on extrapolations from neighboring regions.
The nine-dash line and other claims
In 1947, China and Taiwan presented historical claims to the Paracel and Spratly islands, asserting ties dating back centuries. However, criticism arose due to China’s vague nine-dash line on maps, lacking specific coordinates and causing uncertainty about the extent of its territorial and maritime assertions. Vietnam strongly contests China’s historical narrative, asserting sovereignty over these islands since the 17th Century. The Philippines, based on geographic proximity to the Spratlys, lays claim to part of the region and contests Scarborough Shoal with China, situated approximately 100 miles from the Philippines and 500 miles from China.
Serious Clashes
Recent decades have witnessed significant tensions, notably between Vietnam and China, as well as stand-offs involving the Philippines and China. Some key incidents include:
- 1974: Chinese forces seized the Paracels from Vietnam, resulting in the deaths of over 70 Vietnamese soldiers.
- 1988: Vietnam suffered losses, with approximately 60 sailors in clashes over the Spratlys.
- Early 2012: China and the Philippines engaged in a prolonged maritime stand-off, each accusing the other of intrusions in the Scarborough Shoal.
- Late 2012: Unverified reports of the Chinese navy disrupting Vietnamese exploration efforts sparked large anti-China protests in Vietnam.
- January 2013: Manila initiated legal action against China at a UN tribunal under the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea to contest its claims.
- May 2014: China introducing a drilling rig near the Paracel Islands led to multiple ship collisions between Vietnamese and Chinese vessels.
- June 2019: Manila accused a Chinese trawler of ramming a Filipino fishing boat carrying 22 individuals, later rescued by the Vietnamese.
- Early 2023: The Philippines reported incidents where Chinese vessels allegedly used lasers to temporarily blind Filipino boat crews and engaged in risky maneuvers, including sailing too close or blocking paths.
Interview
What will be the regional impact of the unauthorized entry of US Navy ships into the South China Sea?
Chairman
Department of International Relations
University of Chittagong, Bangladesh
The South China Sea is already a hotspot for territorial disputes, and the unlawful deployment of US Navy boats there is sure to inflame regional sentiments and heighten global tensions. It is a strategically significant and controversial region since several nations, China included, have competing territorial claims in the South China Sea. There could be heightened military tensions and instability as a result of China’s perception of the unexpected landing of US Navy vessels as an attack on its sovereignty. The passage of this proposal may hurt the US-China relationship and relationships with other regional powers such as Vietnam and the Philippines. There is a high risk of mistakes and unintended outcomes because the illegal invasion can provoke responses from affected states, which might escalate regional instability and ignite bigger geopolitical conflicts. If US Navy ships are in the South China Sea without permission, it will be important to navigate diplomatic channels to prevent further escalation. There are many negative effects that the area will feel as a result of the US Navy’s illegal incursion into the South China Sea. China is likely to respond strongly, which might lead to a military confrontation, and current tensions will only rise. Not only may this escalate tensions between China and the US, but it could also draw in other countries that have staked territorial claims in the area. Furthermore, it might lead to a wider decline in international standards concerning territorial integrity and freedom of navigation, which other countries could use as a foothold in future maritime conflicts worldwide. Trade routes might be disrupted due to the increased uncertainty in the South China Sea, which would have an economic effect on the economy of the states involved and those who rely on the stability of the area. Aside from the obvious diplomatic and military fallout, the illegal US Navy incursion into the South China Sea has far-reaching consequences for regional harmony, collaboration, and economic pursuits.
Conclusion
China claims extensive ownership of the South China Sea, involving disputes with Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei over border territories. Additionally, Malaysia and Indonesia have staked claims to different segments of the region.
