South China Sea

Disputed claims in the South China Sea.

The South China Sea lies to the south of the China mainland and is bounded by the coastlines of the People's Republic of China (PRC), Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, and Taiwan. In the south-west it becomes the Gulf of Thailand. To the south the Serat Karimata gives access to the Java Sea; to the east the Balabac and Mindoro straits give access to the Sulu Sea and the Luzon Strait north of the Philippines gives access to the Pacific Ocean. The South China Sea contains a number of small island groups, uninhabited or inhabited only on a temporary basis by fishermen or by military detachments. These include the Paracel Islands and the Spratly Islands.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development estimates that roughly 80% of global trade by volume and 70% by value is transported by sea. Of that volume, 60% of maritime trade passes through Asia, with the South China Sea carrying an estimated one-third of global shipping.

For centuries the South China Sea was a major food source for China and neighboring states. Overfishing has relatively depleted it as a food source, however its underwater mineral and gas resources have now made it very competitive for sovereign nations bordering it. The Peoples Republic of China claims it as "Chinese lake," based upon the Chinese population's historic dependence upon it for resources.

The People's Republic of China lays claim to all the islands in the South China Sea and shipping lanes;^[1] these claims are disputed by other nations bordering the sea. This rivalry is given added impetus by the large oil and gas reserves known to exist in the area.

Spratly Islands[edit]

According to a July 13, 2021 report in The Washington Times:

Fiery Cross Reef[edit]

In 2018, the PRC installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles on Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands. The land-based YJ-12B anti-ship cruise missiles can strike surface vessels within 295 nautical miles. The long-range HQ-9B surface-to-air missiles have an expected range of targeting aircraft, drones and cruise missiles within 160 nautical miles.^[3] The PLA has also installed communications jamming and radar equipment.

Philippines[edit]

The Philippine government filed an arbitration case with the Permanent Court of Arbitration against China in 2013 after China seized a reef over which both countries claim sovereignty. In addition to ruling against China's claim of historic rights to the South China Sea, the court found that China had violated the Philippines' sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone by interfering with its fishing and petroleum exploration, as well as by constructing artificial islands in the Spratly Islands archipelago, which had caused "severe harm to the coral reef environment".^[4]

China has constructed artificial islands around seven reefs in the Spratly Islands archipelago. The islands are central to Beijing's apparent ambition to "have absolute control" over the South China Sea,^[5] which holds an estimated 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 11 billion barrels of oil in proven and probable reserves, in addition to maritime resources such as fish.^[6]

Scarborough Shoal[edit]

In early 2012 vessels from the PRC mainland swarmed Scarborough Shoal which lies within the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ) after the Philippines detained Chinese poachers. The shoal, just rocks above the high-tide waterline, is strategic because it guards the approaches to Manila and Subic Bays. It is only 124 nautical miles from the main Philippine island of Luzon and about 550 nautical miles from Hainan Island of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Only the Philippines complied with a supposed agreement reported by the MSM brokered by the Obama administration for the PRC to withdraw their ships from Scarborough Shoal. In a White House press conference with barack Obama, Xi Jinping made a commitment not to “militarize” artificial islands that Beijing was building.^[7] The PRC, however, has been in firm control of Scarborough Shoal ever since. The Obama administration, despite the brazen Chinese seizure, decided not to enforce the agreement it arranged.^[8]

Union Banks[edit]

According to a July 12, 2021 article from Associated Press:

PLA Maritime Militia anchored at Whitsun Reef, March 2021.^[9]

Whitsun Reef[edit]

In March 2021, some 220 Chinese Maritime Militia vessels descended on Whitsun Reef,^[11] which lies within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.^[12] The Philippine government called on China to cease "militarizing the area". In July 2021, the CCP mouthpiece Global TImes reported, "The Chinese government's position on the arbitration is clear, 'not accept, not participate, and not recognize'... The 'arbitral award' deemed by China as 'a piece of scrap paper' has long been thrown into the dustbin of history."^[13]

Vietnam claims[edit]

Johnson South Reef[edit]

On March 14-15, 1988 sixty-four Vietnamese sailors were killed during a confrontation between the People's Republic of China and Vietnam.^[14][15]

Malaysia[edit]

In June 2021, 16 People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAD) planes flew over a Malaysian maritime exclusive economic zone. Additionally, China Coast Guard vessels harassed Malaysian oil and gas developments at the Kasawari field offshore Malaysia exclusive economic zone for the third time in 18 months.^[16]

Luconia Shoals[edit]

Indonesia[edit]

Laut Natuna[edit]

Sanche[edit]

Sansha city was founded in 2012 and is effectively controlled by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and China’s semi-militarized coast guard. It covers 260 islands and in the Spratly, Paracel, Xisha and Zhongsha Islands occupying territories claimed by Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei. It is mostly located in salt water and spread over an area 1,700 times larger than New York City.

A 2021 US Naval War College report states, “Once a remote outpost, Woody Island has become a bustling hub of activity.” It added, “The island now boasts expanded port infrastructure, seawater desalination and sewage treatment facilities, new public housing, a functioning judicial system, 5G network coverage, a school, and regular charter flights to and from the mainland.” The report further states that Sansha city is “developing tourism in the Paracel Islands, attracting hundreds of newly registered companies, cultivating aquaculture, and encouraging long-term residency.” China has constructed even jails and a courthouse.

The Peoples Republic of China describes Sansha city as a prefecture-level city, which in mainland China includes a central city, surrounding cities, towns, villages, and rural areas. The US Navy War College report explains Beijing’s motives behind developing Sansha city as a usual municipal city. It states, “The expansion of the city’s party-state institutions allows municipal authorities to directly govern contested areas of the South China Sea and ensures the primacy of CCP interests in local decision-making.”^[17]

Quad Alliance[edit]

See also: Quad Alliance

In 2017, the United States, Australia, India, and Japan formally established the Quad Alliance to counter PRC aggression in the South China Sea.

In May 2021, the Biden regime greenlighted its Chinese Communist allies to pursue PRC territorial demands, invade Taiwan, and spread its anti-democratic and genocidal worldview outside Chinese borders.^[18]

See also[edit]

• Strait of Malacca

References[edit]