Crucially, the sea is also a vital fishing ground, providing protein and income for tens of millions of people across the region. For nations like Vietnam and the Philippines, access to these waters is not just an economic issue; it is a matter of food security and rural employment. At the heart of the tension lies a complex web of overlapping territorial claims. The primary claimants—China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan—assert rights based on historical maps, proximity, or the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The most contentious element is China’s claim, known as the This sweeping demarcation, originally drawn in 1947, encompasses nearly 90% of the South China Sea, including waters within 200 nautical miles of the coasts of Vietnam and the Philippines. Critics argue that the line has no basis in international law, as it claims entire archipelagos and vast expanses of high seas, ignoring the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of other coastal states. south china sea
Key locations like now function as military outposts. While China describes these facilities as civilian and defensive in nature—useful for navigation safety and disaster response—neighboring nations and the Pentagon see them as offensive forward operating bases. They allow the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to project power deep into the sea, challenging the decades-old U.S.-dominated naval order. The Role of External Powers: The United States and Allies No discussion of the South China Sea is complete without addressing the role of the United States. As the region’s preeminent external security partner, Washington has maintained a policy of “freedom of navigation” (FONOPs). Regularly, U.S. Navy warships sail within 12 nautical miles of Chinese-claimed features, a direct challenge to what Washington considers excessive maritime claims. Crucially, the sea is also a vital fishing