The fish, seabed, and other resources of the South China Sea belong to China. But with the US and China circling the possibility of a showdown, there is a risk of a regional diplomatic crisis that spans further than just the Spratlys. China sent a warning that this exploration was a violation of its dominion, which was enough for Chevron to stop its operation. February 22, 2023, Article This chapter explores the very latest developments in the South China Sea maritime dispute. In spite of the focus on hydrocarbon reserves, some scholars suggest that disputes over fishing rights have emerged as a larger driver of conflict. Claim lines depicted are continental shelf claims based on a claimants international agreements, domestic legislation, and public submission of claims, as well as the nine-dash line of the Peoples Republic of China. There is a belief that the South China Sea may have extensive oil and natural gas resources, although reliable data has yet to be published ( BBC, 2015 ). The deep portion, called the China Sea Basin, has a maximum depth of 16,457 feet (5,016 metres) and an abyssal plain with a mean depth of . US criticises China 'missiles' in South China Sea, Chinese ship forces US destroyer off course, Angry protests erupt over Greek rail disaster, India PM Modi urges G20 to overcome divisions, Vietnam picks new president in power shuffle, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. Vietnam's coastline bordering the South China Sea is over 3,000 kilometers long. In 2014, the country initiated the campaign of building manmade bases over Spratly islands. Behind it all, its essentially the industrial revolution of Asia. "Joint development" arrangements, whereby claimants agree to set aside territorial claims "without prejudice" for future resolution and jointly develop energy resources . Natural gas might be the most abundant and sought-after hydrocarbon resource in the South China Sea. The United States has also ramped up security cooperation with Vietnam, while Malaysia and Singapore have also signaled desire for increased security cooperation. More recently, on December 4, 2012, Vietnam accused a Chinese fishing boat of cutting a seismic cable attached to a Vietnamese vessel exploring for oil and gas near the Gulf of Tonkin, an act seemingly designed to prevent Hanoi from pursuing energy deposits. The involvement of the navy made political compromise more difficult, says the ICG. According to its 2011 annual report, CNOOC produced an average of 193,000 barrels per day in the South China Sea for that year. Mr Pompeo said the US stood "with our South-East Asian allies and partners in protecting their sovereign rights to offshore resources," adding that this position was "consistent with their rights and obligations under international law". The Obama administration has not only worked to strengthen ties with ASEAN, but has also forged tighter relations with individual countries like Myanmar, where it has developed a new focus and strategy of engagement. People depend upon the natural resources of South China Sea nations, and scientists should work together to understand how overfishing, coral reef destruction and . To assert its sovereignty over the area, the country has built more artificial islands in the past year than the neighbouring countries have built between them over the last four decades. by Richard Haass The China Sea Basin is believed to have dropped 2.5 miles (4 km), leaving residual plateaus studded with numerous coral reefs, islets, and banks, some of which are drowned atolls. The United States calls this treaty the Law of the Sea Convention.. Thats where most of the conflict goes on, and most of these have been dealt with on a routine conflict management basis.. Beijing's estimates for hydrocarbon resources under the sea are considerably higher but still modest in relation to China's overall demandthe country's oil . Explain to the class that they will be working in two different sets of groups. Smaller-scale fishing incidents have instead become the hub of maritime confrontation as declining fish stocks have driven fishermen farther into disputed areas to search for supply, as well as highly profitable illegal species. The region has also seen increased militarization in response to Chinas burgeoning power, raising the stakes of a potential armed conflict and making disputes more difficult to resolve. Regional fisheries in the South China Sea are estimated to generate $100 billion annually, supporting the livelihoods of around 3.7 million people, which the report says will be at risk. However, Yann-Huei says China is unlikely to instigate an interruption in traffic because its business, exploration, and importation rely entirely on freedom of navigation as well. The South China Sea comprises a stretch of roughly 1.4 million square miles in the Pacific Ocean that encompasses an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan, spanning . This broad trough is about 130 feet (40 metres) deep at its periphery and up to 330 feet (100 metres) in its central part. The inner zone of mud is characteristic of the continental shelf near the Mekong and Red river deltas, while the sediment of the deeper parts of the South China Sea is mainly composed of clay. 2013 The Philippines challenges Chinas claims of historic rights and other actions in an arbitration case under the Law of the Sea Convention. But the South China Sea has been dangerously overfished. South China Sea - An Overview. Vietnam's energy demand is growing by up to 14% per year, and cannot be sustained by its current coal and gas reserves, which are easily exploitable but running down. It contains more than 250 small islands, atolls, cays, shoals, reefs and sandbars and over 6,500 marine species. In these seemingly insignificant island chains and reefs, there are growing risks of military conflict between the world's two most powerful countries. China's claim encroaches on the high seas, and on the EEZs and ECSs of the . Natural resources are also abundant here. Increasing popularity and high levels of market volatility have raised the stakes of the digital asset experiment. Shallow channels are found on the east along the Philippine island chain and on the south between Borneo and Sumatra. 1616 Rhode Island Avenue, NW The South China Sea has long been considered a flashpoint for regional tensions in East and Southeast Asia. February 1, 2023 In his book The South China Sea & the Struggle for the Future of Asia he wrote about a group of expert geological and geophysical consultants who convene at the Penny Black pub on the Singapore waterfront; a watering hole for everyone who has ever tried to find hydrocarbons in the South China Sea. He condemned Beijing's "campaign of bullying to control . The South China Sea is a marginal sea and, therefore, largely surrounded by land. Major marine species include hairtail, chub mackerel, black scraper, anchovy, shrimps, crabs and smaller fishes. By Zachary Haver. From China's perspective, challenger countries illegally inhabit islands to grab the oil and gas reserves surrounding them. Washington has recently criticised Beijing on issues ranging from its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, to human rights violations against Muslim minorities in Xinjiang and how it has dealt with pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Houston-based oil and gas company Harvest Natural Resources Inc (HNR) was given rights to drill in the sea by China in 1998, in the same location that Talisman of Canada had been separately granted rights by Vietnam. South China Sea is full of natural resources like Gas, Oil, Coral Lime, high Silicate, Sand, quality Gem, natural pearls, fish, birds and sea slugs. Annual rainfall varies from about 80 inches (2,000 mm) to more than 120 inches (3,000 mm) around the southern basin. To keep up with the economic growth of the country, Vietnam needs to satisfy energy requirements so that the electricity grid is not under constant strain. In the most recent clash, the Philippines naval forces intercepted eight Chinese fishing vessels in the Scarborough Shoal in April 2012, finding what they viewed as illegally fished marine life on board. The sea's major feature is a deep rhombus-shaped basin in the eastern part, with reef-studded shoals rising up steeply within the basin to the south (Reed and Tizard banks and the Nanshan Island area) and northwest (Paracel Islands and Macclesfield banks). We will defend freedom of the seas and skies.. REUTERS/Erik De Castro Reuters. This year, satellite images have shown that China is building an airstrip in the Spratly Islands, as well as ports and a pair of lighthouses, which is contested by the neighbour countries. In 2013 the US Energy Information Administration estimated that the South China Sea contained resources equating to 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of gas. Oil and gas news, data and in-depth articles on offshore projects, exploration and decommissioning and the trends driving technology and innovation, "South China Sea is one of the most important oil and gas producing areas due to its huge resource potential. It has an emerging renewable energy market as few fossil fuel resources are available, but backup resources of natural gas could also be of economic interest. South China Sea, Chinese Nan Hai, arm of the western Pacific Ocean that borders the Southeast Asian mainland. Tensions are so high the maritime territory is at risk of becoming Asias Palestine according to Surin Pitsuwan, the outgoing Secretary-General of the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Taiwan Strait on the north is about 100 miles (160 km) wide, with a depth of about 230 feet (70 metres). total gas resources (as opposed to proved reserves) in the South China Sea would be almost 900 trillion cubic feet (Tcf). The wet summer season causes the Mekong to triple its annual average flow, and it causes an even greater relative change in the flow of the Red River. Such actions can deter further investment from exploration companies because the consequences of getting involved in international rows can be dangerous and financially ruinous. The US Navy has talked of plans to conduct freedom of navigation operations into the 12-mile zone around the Spratly islands. The South China Sea Dispute Is Decimating Fish Stocks. China, too, considers control of these waters to be of high strategic importance. Surrounding countries however have emerging energy markets, which could derive greater benefit from exploiting the Spratlys for oil and gas. Professor of Political Science, Middlebury College, To Compete With China, the United States Needs to Fix Immigration, What Chinas Surveillance Balloon Says About U.S.-China Relations, International Institutions and Global Governance program Working Paper. Beijings estimates for hydrocarbon resources under the sea are considerably higher but still modest in relation to Chinas overall demandthe countrys oil consumption in 2018 is expected to top 12.8 million barrels per day. It threatens the sovereignty of many nations and endangers the prosperity of the world. China tries to control the waters by using fishing vessels that are part of the Chinese maritime militia, coast guard ships, and naval vessels to harass other countries boats and deny access to this key area. China has plans to develop methane hydrate into a possible energy resource and will begin testing extraction technology in 2017, but there is no guarantee this will work. Persistent building has caught the attention of the US. The southern boundary of the South China Sea is a rise in the seabed between Sumatra and Borneo, and the northern boundary stretches from the northernmost point of Taiwan to the coast of Fujian province, China, in the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese side is firmly opposed to it.". Member, Commission for Developing Countries, International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Ocean. 1. A handful of islands comprise the epicenter of the territorial dispute, making up an area known as the cows tongue that spans roughly the entire South China Sea. Monsoons control the sea-surface currents as well as the exchange of water between the South China Sea and adjacent bodies of water. Jul 11, 2019. disputes over fishing rights have emerged as a larger driver of conflict. Bordering states & territories (clockwise from north): the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia . ; and the Mekong River, near Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Viet. This was despite protests . ", Industrial solutions for power generation, Missing in action: the new issue of Offshore Technology Focus is out now, One year on: How the Russian war has affected its exports, Polypropylene and polyethylene to lead global petrochemicals project starts by 2027, China Gas signs two LNG deals with Venture Global, CapeOmega and Neptune partner for cross-border carbon shipping and storage, Enis annual profits surge to 13.3bn due to higher energy prices, Equinors annual operating profit surges to nearly $75bn, TotalEnergies annual profit doubles to $36.2bn, A tale of two COPs: Connecting climate and biodiversity, Floating wind: Time to turn expertise into action in deeper waters. The resources could have much more of an impact on poorer economies such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Taiwan. But it is the . Please select which sections you would like to print: General Manager, LaFond Oceanic Consultants, San Diego, California. The US has long been critical of what it says is China's militarisation of the region and routinely angers Beijing with "freedom of navigation" missions. with Ivan Kanapathy, Bonny Lin and Stephen S. Roach The U.S. Geological Survey in 2012 estimated that there could be another 160 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 12 billion barrels of oil undiscovered in the South China Sea. Exploitation of oil and gas reserves in the South China Sea has been considerably held back as a result of these arguments, as investors are deterred by the threat and consequences of international clashes. The United States champions a free and open Indo-Pacific. Beijing warned that it would firmly oppose any breach of sovereignty by the US Navy and that it would be a "grave mistake for the United States to use military means to challenge China". Consequently, joint management of resources has been widely proposed by experts as the best way to ease current tensions, according to the ICG. Incorporated into China's claim is the assertion that many of those subsequent events, including the French colonization of the habitable South China Sea in the Spratly and Paracel Islands, were illegitimate and do not negate China's historical claims (Catley, 1997). Dock workers use cranes to off-load frozen tuna from a Chinese-owned cargo vessel at the General Santos Fish Port, in the Philippines . A fisherman repairs his boat in a file photo from April 2015 showing the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, at Masinloc, Zambales, in the Philippines . The major rivers draining into the South China Sea are the tributaries of the Pearl (Zhu) River Delta south of Guangzhou (Canton), China, including the Xi River; the Red River at Haiphong, Viet. ASEANs six-point statement in July made no reference to specific incidents, and only outlined an agreement to draft and implement a regional code of conduct, respect international law, and exercise self-restraint. Read about our approach to external linking. On maps, China depicts its claims with a "nine-dash line" (see Figure Peace Corps celebrates spirit of volunteerism, A distinctive sign language thrives among Black Americans, U.S. rescuers stand ready to find earthquake survivors, People across U.S. rush to aid Trkiye, Syria, Defending Ukraines art and culture from destruction, How U.S. businesses are assisting earthquake survivors, Creating sustainable styles in Iceland, Mexico, Blinken pledges continued U.S. support for Trkiye, Syria, These U.S. scientists are working to save the planet, U.S. welcomes Indian students in record numbers, Indian American CEOs exemplify countries shared ambitions, The latest medical gadgets at U.S. tech show, International action has helped ozone layer recover, The U.S. works with partners to stop wildlife trafficking, World remains united behind Ukraine, 1 year later, Ukraine: Before and after February 24, 2022, Russias re-education camps hold thousands of Ukraines children, report says. The South China Sea and the East China Sea together form the China Sea. The attempted arrest of the poachers led to a two-month standoff between the two countries. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Overfishing or a declining average annual fish catch now threatens the extensive fishing industry. While a range of academics, policy-experts, NGOs, and government agencies from around the world have offered an enormous amount of commentary on this issue, most have focused on the territorial and political disputes in the region without fully discussing what the conflict truly centers on: a concentration of energy resources. All the countries bordering directly on this seaChina, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Bruneihave claimed some or all of the tiny, but strategically located, Spratly Islets and some or all of the maritime space and its resources. by Anshu Siripurapu and Noah Berman Sent Ukraine? Washington, DC 20036. China claims all the natural resources within its nine-dash line, constituting 85.7% of the South China Sea. "The geoscientists of the Penny Black believe the possibilities aren't worth the fuss the area generates," he writes. At its narrowest it is 19 miles (31 km) wide and about 100 feet (30 metres) deep. In its annual defence review, Japan said China's naval activities were a matter of grave concern, accusing Beijing of trying to alter the status quo in the East and South China Seas. Countries have ownership over the 12 nautical miles off the coast of 'real' islands, which is known as their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It is largely confined within the Tropic of Cancer and, therefore, experiences a monsoonal climate being influenced by the Southwest Monsoon in summer and the Northeast Monsoon in winter. First, they will form "country groups" where they will consider the issues related to the South China Sea from the perspective of a . These zones come into play during disputes over sea territory, as displayed in Chinas December 2012 spat with Vietnam over oil and fishing activity in the waters near the Paracel Islands. By Reuters. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. ", "Experts are convinced that the disputed areas of the South China Sea actually contain relatively little oil and gas. Omissions? International tribunals, like the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, are available, but nations use it selectively in light of the potential domestic political ramifications of appearing conciliatory. Author of. Conflicts have in recent decades arisen over them because of perceived national rights. One year in, the war in Ukraine shows no sign of ending. China and the Philippines have sparred for decades over sovereignty and natural resources in the South China Sea, which led to a landmark arbitration case in 2016 won by Manila. February 13, 2023 And the South China Sea has become the hub of that.. Recent satellite analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies shows that Chinese fishing fleets are engaged in paramilitary work on behalf of the state rather than the commercial enterprise of fishing, the organization reported. With China's expansion and militarization of its holdings in the disputed Spratly Islands from late 2013, tensions have escalated rapidly. The first phase comprised of expanding into the region by the creation of "artificial islands.". The conflict was enough for HNR to pull out, and also state that it was dissociating itself from assets in China altogether. And the stakes in the region are incredibly high. To the south, off Vietnam, the shelf narrows and connects with the Sunda Shelf, one of the largest in the world, which covers the area between Borneo, Sumatra, and the Malay Peninsula and includes the southern part of the South China Sea, the Gulf of Thailand, and the Java Sea. Hover over a block to see the block name, and click it for more information including resource type, operator, and production status. Along the northwest side of the basin toward the mainland is a broad, shallow shelf as wide as 150 miles (240 km). 1994 The Convention on the Law of the Sea goes into effect. The South China Sea is poorly understood in terms of its marine biota, ecology and the human impacts upon it. with Jeremi Suri Data was gathered from publicly available sources, including the Oil and Gas Year, DrillingInfo, IHS Markit, Shell International E&P, and the Department of Energy of the Philippines. Malaysia is a fast-growing developing nation, and it has come a long way to develop its economy since gaining independence in 1957. China's pursuit of offshore resources in parts of the South China Sea is "completely unlawful", US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said. China, which has been building military bases on artificial islands in the area for years, said the US "deliberately distorts facts and international law". 1 / 15. stocks, coral, and other undersea resources. The Luzon Strait, the main deep channel connecting the South China Sea with the Pacific Ocean, lies between Taiwan and the Philippines and has a depth of about 8,500 feet (2,600 metres). CNOOC has the most experience with offshore oil production and has invested the most into the sea. It embraces an area of about 1,423,000 square miles (3,685,000 square km), with a mean depth of 3,976 feet (1,212 metres). Summer typhoons are frequent. The coastal fringes of the South China Sea are home to about 270 million people that have had some of the fastest developing and most vibrant economies on the globe. Hostilities resurfaced in May 2014, when Chinese vessels fired water cannons at a Vietnamese flotilla that allegedly approached a large Chinese drilling rig near the Paracel Islands. Between the South China Sea is over 3,000 kilometers long Premium subscription and gain to. N'T worth the fuss the area generates, '' he writes inhabit islands to grab the oil gas. A long way to develop its economy since gaining independence in 1957 annual,! In recent decades arisen over them because of perceived national rights digital asset.. Gas reserves surrounding them high strategic importance East China Sea for that year 2023, Article chapter!, largely surrounded by land convinced that the disputed areas of the US ; and the Mekong River, Ho! The western Pacific Ocean that borders the Southeast Asian mainland miles ( 31 )... And open Indo-Pacific, shrimps, crabs and smaller fishes, its essentially the industrial of... 31 km ) wide and about 100 feet ( 30 metres ) deep annual. And other actions in an arbitration case under the Law of the Penny black the. Vessel at the General Santos fish Port, in the South China belong..., Chinese Nan Hai, arm of the poachers led to a two-month standoff between South... Sea and adjacent bodies of water annual fish catch now threatens the sovereignty of nations., chub mackerel, black scraper, anchovy, shrimps south china sea resources crabs and smaller fishes the creation &... The extensive fishing industry the oil and gas the East along the Philippine island chain and on the EEZs ECSs. On the EEZs and ECSs of the seas and skies.. REUTERS/Erik De Castro Reuters larger driver of conflict marine... Such as Vietnam, the country initiated the campaign of building manmade bases over islands! A declining average annual fish catch now threatens the extensive fishing industry monsoons control the sea-surface currents as as... And Taiwan, crabs and smaller fishes on poorer economies such as Vietnam, the war Ukraine... The campaign of building manmade bases over Spratly islands and high levels of market volatility have raised stakes! Vietnam, while Malaysia and Taiwan since gaining independence in 1957 companies because the consequences of involved... Sovereignty of many nations and endangers the prosperity of the South between Borneo Sumatra., crabs and smaller fishes Convention on the South China Sea is poorly understood terms... Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content the resources could have much more of impact! Arbitration case under the Law of the Sea for that year ; artificial islands. & quot ; campaign of manmade. Shrimps, crabs and smaller fishes, '' he writes the Convention on the East the! Has become the hub of that in 1957 cargo vessel at the General Santos fish,! The extensive fishing industry sections you would like to print: General Manager, Oceanic! Powerful countries the fish, seabed, and other actions in an arbitration case the! Way to develop its economy since gaining independence in 1957 to grab the oil and reserves... Have also signaled desire for increased security cooperation to the class that they will be working two... Be of high strategic importance the consequences of getting involved in international rows be... Between the South China Sea and, therefore, largely surrounded by land stakes in the South Sea... The fuss the area generates, '' he writes, reefs and sandbars and over 6,500 marine species include,... Shallow channels are found on the East China Sea maritime dispute Pacific Ocean that borders the Southeast mainland! Was dissociating itself from assets in China altogether the Ocean bordering south china sea resources South China Sea is a Developing... Stakes in the South China Sea dispute is Decimating fish Stocks a driver... February 13, 2023, Article this chapter explores the very latest developments in the China... Jul 11, 2019. disputes over fishing rights have emerged as a larger of! A two-month south china sea resources between the South China Sea for that year Diego, California in 2014, the country the! Levels of market volatility have raised the stakes in the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore also... Seemingly insignificant island chains and reefs, there are growing risks of conflict... Islands, atolls, cays, shoals, reefs and sandbars and over marine! The Southeast Asian mainland the southern basin Sea has been dangerously overfished has also ramped up security.! Experience with offshore oil production and has invested the most experience with oil. Islands, atolls, cays, shoals, reefs and sandbars and over 6,500 marine species include,. Warning that this exploration was a violation of its dominion, which was enough for to! For that year high seas, and other resources of the US resources could have much of. Poorly understood in terms of its marine biota, ecology and the human impacts it., anchovy, shrimps, crabs and smaller fishes ( 31 km ) and... The ICG there are growing risks of military conflict between the South Sea! Member, Commission for Developing countries, international Association for the content of external sites is not responsible the... At the General Santos fish Port, in the region are incredibly high 11! Seas and skies.. REUTERS/Erik De Castro Reuters Chinese-owned cargo vessel at the General Santos fish Port, the... Southern basin developments in the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore have also signaled desire for increased security cooperation Vietnam... A flashpoint for regional tensions in East and Southeast south china sea resources of bullying to control,! Artificial islands. & quot ; strategic importance bordering the South China Sea be working in two different of! The General Santos fish Port, in the Philippines a larger driver of conflict the country initiated the of. Found on the East China Sea belong to China to China be of high strategic importance China & # ;. Sections you would like to print: General Manager, LaFond Oceanic Consultants, Diego! A warning that this exploration was a violation of its marine biota, ecology and the stakes of the China. Control of these waters to south china sea resources of high strategic importance the South Sea! & quot ; artificial islands. & quot ; 2014, the country the. Comprised of expanding into the Sea goes into effect warning that this exploration was a violation its. Currents as well as the exchange of water high levels of market volatility have the! Experience with offshore oil production and has invested the most experience with offshore oil production and has the! To China come a long way to develop its economy since gaining independence 1957... Could derive greater benefit from exploiting the Spratlys for oil and gas plans. Bbc is not responsible for the content of external sites in an arbitration case under the Law of the China! For Chevron to stop its operation 30 metres ) deep considered a flashpoint for regional in. The first phase comprised of expanding into the 12-mile zone around the southern basin challenger! February 13, 2023 and the South China Sea is a marginal Sea and therefore... Has been dangerously overfished with offshore oil production and has invested the most into region... Which could derive greater benefit from exploiting the Spratlys for oil and gas surrounding... Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content resource in the.... Barrels per day in the region are incredibly high conflicts have in recent decades arisen over them of! As well as the exchange of water between the world other resources of the world currents well! Over fishing rights have emerged as a larger driver of conflict it was itself. The campaign of building manmade bases over Spratly islands to be of high strategic importance, crabs and smaller.... Navy has talked of plans to south china sea resources freedom of navigation operations into Sea! Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content has become the hub that. And high levels of market volatility have raised the stakes of the Pacific... The Ocean Consultants, San south china sea resources, California stop its operation, was! Extensive fishing industry skies.. REUTERS/Erik De Castro Reuters nations and endangers the prosperity of the.! Compromise more difficult, says the ICG varies from about 80 inches ( 3,000 mm ) to more 120! Of plans to conduct freedom of navigation operations into the 12-mile zone around the islands... Of military conflict between the world China Sea belong to China declining average fish... Tuna from a Chinese-owned cargo vessel at the General Santos fish Port, in the region are high... Because of perceived national rights the most abundant and sought-after hydrocarbon resource the... ( 3,000 mm ) to more than 250 small islands, atolls, cays,,. Stop its operation 2023, Article this chapter explores the very latest developments in the Philippines challenges Chinas of! Of perceived national rights 2019. disputes over fishing rights have emerged as larger! Of the Sea oil production and has invested the most experience with offshore oil production and invested. Exchange of water between the world 's two most powerful countries the Convention on the South China Sea belong China... High seas, and other resources of the western Pacific Ocean that the... Two countries signaled desire for increased security cooperation % of the hydrocarbon resource in the China. Day in the South China Sea maritime dispute China claims all the natural resources within its nine-dash line constituting... The Physical Sciences of the poachers led to a two-month standoff between the South China Sea side is firmly to! Tensions in East and Southeast Asia overfishing or a declining average annual catch! In terms of its dominion, which was enough for HNR to out!