Final and Last class on Politics in South Asia-
Final and Last class on Politics in South Asia-
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.
In 2009, Malaysia and Vietnam sent a joint submission to the Commission on
the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) for setting out some of their claims. In
response to this China submitted a map containing the infamous “nine-dash”
line and due to which, there was no headway in the dispute resolution.
History of South China Sea Dispute neighbors argue that China’s relative size and clout give it
an unfair advantage.
ASEAN and South China Sea
PCA-Ruling and implications
One of the fundamental principles of the Association of
Both the Philippines and China laid their claims the
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been to resolve
Scarborough Shoal which is a little more than 100 miles
regional disputes by peaceful means. But over the years,
from the Philippines and 500 miles from China. The
the position of ASEAN on the South China Sea disputes has
Philippines and China are both dependent upon fishing in
weakened its image internationally and failing to resolve
the South China Sea, specifically in the Scarborough Shoal,
this issue would lead to questions being raised about its
for the economic development and livelihood of their
credibility as an effective regional organization.
people. A tense but bloodless stand-off between China and
The US and the South China Sea
the Philippines over Scarborough Shoal in 2012, led to
The U.S. has no claim in the South China Sea, but has been
China gaining de facto control over the region.
highly critical of China’s assertiveness and insisted on free
But in 2013, the Philippines raised the dispute with China
navigation of commercial vessels in the South China Sea is
to the PCA(Permanent Court Of Arbitration), saying China’s
vital for regional and international trade.
claims violated Philippines’ sovereignty under the 1982
It conducted joint military patrols with the Philippines and
U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS).
Japan, Australia, and Indonesia.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that Chinese
US also increased the financial support for enhancing the
claims over 90 percent of the South China Sea area are
military capabilities of ASEAN and East Asian countries as
illegitimate and under UNCLOS, China is intruding into the
well strengthened bilateral defense collaboration with
Philippines’ sovereign waters as the 9-dash line which
these countries.
includes the Scarborough shoal and crosses into the
Philippines EEZ.
China out rightly rejected the ruling. China prefers bilateral
negotiations with the other parties. But many of its
History of South China Sea Dispute
India and the South China Sea
India remained acutely conscious of its official position of
neither being party to the disputes nor taking sides for many
years. But with increasing ties with East Asian countries (Act
East Policy), India indirectly started raising concerns about
Chinese illegitimate claims in the South China Sea.