The South China Sea is one of the important trade route for some popular Southeast Asian states including China. The Sea is surrounded by multiple states including Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Philippines, and others. All the surrounding states have claimed their territory in the water. However, China claimed to be the sole owner of the whole sea, according to their traditional line called the nine-dash line. For all the states, the Sea is important because it has an enormous amount of resources including rich in oil and gas, while the sea is also famous for fishing.
Moreover, every year, trillions of dollars of products pass through the Sea. According to a report, the Sea accounts for around 60% of the maritime trade and more than 22% of the global trade. In the meantime, China is building man-made Islands across the waters and deploying missiles, aircraft carriers, and its naval forces. Therefore, there is a chance for high military combat over the disputed water between China and other SCS states. The US is ready to support its allies against China to constrain the emerging power. The Washington, one of the oldest dominant power in the region, are ally with many South East Asian State and provided support to them in different time against the aggressive acts of China. In nutshell, Washington seeks to provide logistical and financial support to the nations surrounding South China Sea. The US also took an action against China during their assertiveness against Taiwan and stated that the United States will always there to defend Taiwan. The US sole aim is to protect their interests in the region and prevent China from dominancy.
A few months ago, tension arose between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. The Chinese coast guard entered into the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and collided with one of the Philippines’ ships but no harm was reported from the collision. In March, the Chinese ships blasted the Philippines ship with water cannon that damaged the ship. The ship was surrounded by Chinese coastal guards for many hours. It has been perceived that the cost guards were not People Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers but looked like civilians, working for the Chinese military as an intelligent network. Additionally, China approached one of the Philippine vessels by attacking the ship with a knife. Subsequently, the tension has reached at a high boiling point, could possibly cause threat to regional stability and negate peace. However, the Chinese aggressive action against the Philippines vessels has established a trouble across the South China Sea and other surrounding states were more conscious about the territorial claims. Hence, China is the largest and most powerful state in the South China Sea, ignoring the claims and rights of other smaller and weaker states.
The Washington calls China’s behavior reckless and tacit that it will act in any worse circumstances, if the China diatribes the Philippines’ rights of territorial claim. Moreover, the Washington also argued that if China continues its aggressive action against the Philippines Cost Guard, it will act against China. However, the US and the Philippines have strengthened their alliance since last year. Last year in 2023, the Philippines granted permission to four military bases to the US. In April 2024, the US deployed a mid-range typhoon missile system in the Philippines. Further, the Washington also announced $500m for Philippines as military to further strengthen alliance and collaborate with the Manila. The announcement came on Tuesday, 30 July during the visit of state secretary Antony Blinken and Defense secretary to Manila. The State Secretary further added that the fund will be providing to enhance cooperation with one of the oldest ally of the US in the region. The US took this step due to the recent clashes occurred in the South China Sea between China and Philippine. Therefore, China may perceive a threat from the increasingly strengthened alliance the US and the Philippines. Prior to that, China deployed its largest aircraft carrier Shandong in the water of South China Sea. Vessels from the carrier were sailing to the North-West of the Philippines Island called Luzon. Some scholars believe that this act of China was a deterrent to Washington and Manila in the disputed waters. Moreover, the PLA has also increased its military drills in the disputed water in recent months.
However, talks were held by both states in July to reach a peaceful resolution of the matter. The Chinese Vice foreign minister and the Philippines foreign affairs secretary had constructive and formative discussions on South China Sea. Both states have reached to a provisional arrangement and the Chinese vice foreign minister confirmed that we have reached a “temporary agreement” with Manila. Furthermore, they agreed on to de-escalate the tension and manage the affairs through consultations and dialogue rather than adopting violent way.
Meanwhile, the future of the South China Sea depends upon how China deals with it. China claimed to be the sole owner of the whole SCS. China negates the claim of all other states over the waters. The Chinese has declared the South China Sea is the National interests of Beijing and the state will never compromise on its national interests. Moreover, China’s has established its strong naval forces and have power projection capabilities to compete and abandon any state in the water of SCS. Currently, China has a strong control over land and has strong military forces, while consistently working to expand its naval power to compete with the US. Hence, the South China Sea dispute is not likely to be resolved because the incumbent premier has declared that SCS is the core interest of the Chinese people. Surrendering territorial water claims to other states meant to cross the red line of China. While on the other hand, other states including the Philippines and Vietnam will also not compromise over its territory. In nutshell, foment and instability will prevail across the region. The state needs to act peacefully to have a peaceful resolution of the disputed issue and prevent the region from conflict.
