By: Mahmoud, Ali, Fatma, Arez, Rojhat, and Shahad

South China Sea

- 1.1: Why is the south China Sea Contentious?

The South China Sea is a highly contentious area due to overlapping territorial claims and the presence of valuable
resources, such as oil, gas, and fishing grounds. China has claimed ownership of the majority of the territory within
the South China Sea, defined as the "nine-dash line," which has been criticized for violating neighboring countries'
sovereignty and not following the UNCLOS treaty. China has backed up its claims with military presence, including
the placement of military camps on islands and the dispatch of ships and planes. These actions have prompted
reactions from the international community, with the US taking a leading role by sending military to the region to
ensure the protection of the trade route with Taiwan and to reduce China's presence within the sea.

The South China Sea is also a major shipping route and fishing ground for neighboring countries, making it a key
point of interest for the international community. The territorial disputes and China's assertive actions have led to
increased militarization of the area and will continue to be a source of tension in the region. In addition to tensions
between China and its neighbors, several instances of conflict and tension have occurred in the region. In 1974,
China seized the Paracel Islands from Vietnam, killing over 70 Vietnamese troops. In 1988, the two sides clashed in
the Spratlys, resulting in Vietnam losing about 60 sailors. In early 2012, China and the Philippines engaged in a
maritime stand-off over the Scarborough Shoal.

Unverified claims that the Chinese navy sabotaged two Vietnamese exploration operations in late 2012 led to large
anti-China protests in Vietnam. In response, the Philippines announced in January 2013 that it would take China to
a UN tribunal under the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea to challenge its claims. In May 2014, China's
introduction of a drilling rig into waters near the Paracel Islands resulted in multiple collisions between Vietnamese
and Chinese ships. These incidents, along with China's assertive actions, have contributed to the militarization of
the area and will continue to be a source of tension in the region.

- 1.2: South China Sea Tensions

Some of the most important shipping lanes on earth pass through the South China Sea. Usually, food and
manufactured goods move south and oil and minerals move north. Even though China increased its military activity
in the South China Sea by conducting a number of naval maneuvers and exercises in March and April 2018,
tensions between China and the Philippines and Vietnam have recently decreased. The (CFR) Council of Foreign
Relations of South China Sea had tensions between many countries Multiple sovereign states and authorities such
as Brunei Darussalam, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Professional Regulation Commission, Taiwan,
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, were against island and maritime tries to claim in the South
China Sea. About 90% of the South China Sea’s three million square kilometers are covered by the nine-dash line.
The “nine-dash line,” which extends hundreds of miles south and east from China’s most southerly province of
Hainan, defines the area that country by far claims as its own. China asserts maritime dominance over this region.
The nine-dash line is represented by dashes rather than a continuous line because some Chinese analysts consider
it to be a maritime border. Since 2014, the (PRC) Professional Regulation Commission has continued to assert
claims to have a legitimacy to legitimate the South China Sea, within four geographically separated groups of
islands and other maritime features, including a right to establish baselines and close in internal waters.
 - 1.3: How China’s rise will not be peaceful

In the recent years, there has been a lot of discussion around China's rise. On the one hand, some claim that
because China has made important economic improvement and has come out as a major player in the global
economy, its rise would be peaceful. On the other side, some people worry that China's rise may result in a rise in
military and political aggression. In order to ensure that China's rise is peaceful, the Chinese leadership has made it
clear that this is its goal. For example, China has worked to form close economic ties with other nations, China has
also worked hard to form good ties with its neighbors has tried to support regional stability.

In an effort to strengthen its position in the region, China has recently expanded its military spending. In addition,
China has been accused of violating human rights and has engaged in territorial debates with some of its
neighbors.

At the end of the day, it is hard to say whether China's rise will be peaceful or not. The Chinese government has
made efforts to guarantee that its growth is peaceful and is clearly dedicated to pursuing this goal. However, some
people worry that China's rise could be accompanied by an increase in military tensions.

- 1.4: How Beijing is winning in the South China Sea

This map shows how China is using force to annex the South China Sea. For instance, they are circling all of the
nations that are attempting to do so with bombers and fighter aircrafts by using hard power. Other nations can’t
do anything about it because the countries have insufficient power compared to china. As we can see China has
sent aircraft carriers through the Taiwan Strait and flown jets between Japan's southernmost islands. China's
increasing confidence in asserting control over the South China Sea has alarmed its neighbors, particularly the
Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Barely three weeks after the Vinson's visit, the Vietnamese
government bowed to Chinese pressure and canceled a major oil drilling project in disputed South China waters.
China sees the South China Sea confrontation as a test case for its ability to impose its will on the wider region -
and so far, it is winning.
 - 1.5: China will not tolerate US military muscle-flexing off our shores

There was a recent hype about “Freedom of navigation” In the south China sea, and to response to this US has
been flexing its military power by sending ships, and aircrafts into the area.

What is Freedom of navigation?

As claimed by the International law, in order of ships being current in the waters that surrounds other nations
territories, they must comply with the innocent passage provisions of the UN Convention. Which indicates that
they shouldn’t use force or threaten the use of force, not being engaged in military exercises or information
gathering activities, even though naval ships are not a topic for United Nations Law of the Sea, many countries
require obtaining prior approval or giving notice before entering foreign territorial waters, including China's laws
regarding its territorial sea.

What concerns militarization of the South China Sea

The US rejects the militarization and keeps sending destroyers, warships, carriers, and strategic bombs with
complete ignorance to other countries sovereignty, security, and peace. Some nations are failing to understand
this and blaming China for everything that is going on, this is messing up and being a trouble, which helps the US.

Finally, what does it take to ensure peace and stability in the South China Sea?
Ensuring peace and stability in the south China sea requires cooperation and joins efforts from all regional
partners, especially china’s neighbors who have more chance to keep the area safe more than anyone else. There
should be effective communication and dialogue between parties, as well as respect and transparency for each
other’s sovereignty and interest, are also important to keep safety in the area.

China's stance on the military muscle-flexing by the United States off its shores highlights the nation's
determination to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. In recent years, the United States has increased its
military presence in the Asia-Pacific region, which includes the waters surrounding China. This has led to
heightened tensions between the two nations, as China sees this as a direct threat to its security and stability. The
concept of military muscle-flexing refers to the demonstration of military strength and capabilities, often as a show
of force or warning to other nations. In this context, the United States' actions near China's shores can be
interpreted as a challenge to China's dominance in the region and a signal of potential aggression. China’s response
to this perceived threat has been to increase its own military presence in the region and to assert its claims to
disputed territories in the South China Sea. This has resulted in several incidents of tension, including close
encounters between Chinese and US military vessels and aircraft. The Chinese government has also expressed its
strong opposition to US military activities near its shores, stating that it will not tolerate such actions and will take
necessary measures to defend its interests. The growing tensions between the two nations have significant
implications for regional stability and global security. The Asia-Pacific region is home to many of the world's major
economic powers, and any conflict between China and the United States could have far-reaching consequences.
Additionally, the continued military muscle-flexing by the United States near China's shores could lead to an arms
race and an increase in the military capabilities of other nations in the region. In conclusion, the issue of US military
muscle-flexing near China's shores highlights the need for dialogue and cooperation between the two nations to
ensure regional stability and avoid potential conflict. Both China and the United States must engage in constructive
dialogue to address their security concerns and find ways to peacefully resolve their differences. Only through
cooperation and mutual understanding can the two nations ensure a stable and secure future for the Asia-Pacific
region and the world.

Notes