SOUTH CHINA SEA

   The South China Sea is a strategic and resource-rich area in the western Pacific Ocean that borders several Southeast Asian countries. It covers an area of about 3.5 million square kilometers and has a mean depth of about 1,200 meters. The sea contains numerous islands, reefs, and shoals, some of which are claimed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei. The sea also holds significant oil and gas reserves, as well as abundant fish stocks. According to some estimates, about $3.4 trillion worth of global trade passes through the South China Sea every year.

   China claims almost the entire South China Sea based on  a nine-dash line that it drew on a map in 1947. China argues that it has sovereignty and jurisdiction over the islands and waters within the nine-dash line, and that it has the right to defend its national interests and security. China has been building artificial islands, military facilities, and maritime infrastructure on some of the disputed features, such as the Spratly and Paracel Islands, to assert its control and influence over the sea.

   However, China’s expansive claims and activities have been challenged by other claimants and by the international community, especially the United States and its allies. They contend that China’s actions violate international law, threaten regional stability and freedom of navigation, and undermine the rights and interests of other countries. They have been conducting diplomatic, legal, and military actions to counter China’s assertiveness and to uphold the rules-based order in the region.