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In recent years, China has aggressively expanded into the South China Sea. The region is a powder keg with territorial disputes, billions of barrels of untapped oil, and a third of all international trade on the line. Tensions between China, its neighbors, and the United States are growing, and mistakes could escalate into all-out war. Today we’ll be reviewing the history and implications of this contentious geopolitical issue.

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The Spratly and Paracel Islands are the main point of contention in the region. The islands were not permanently inhabited for most of history because they were too small to support human life. Both China and Vietnam claimed the island chains in the 19th century, though neither country enforced their claims.

The French would later colonize Vietnam and claim the Spratlies and Paracels. In World War 2, Japan conquered the islands and relinquished them to China after the war ended. The French contested the move, so China released a map with dashed lines to claim approximately 90% of the South China Sea.

The so-called nine dashed line extends some 2000 kilometers away from mainland China or roughly the distance from Miami to New York City. The claim infringes on the rights of Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, these countries have exclusive economic rights to waters up to 370 kilometers from their shores.

International law has not stopped China from developing the islands into military bases. In the 2010’s, China began building military installations like airstrips, ports, and barracks. In response, the United States and its allies conduct freedom of navigation missions. By deliberately navigating through waters that China claims, the United States contests China’s sovereignty in the area.

The disputes are fueled by the strategic importance of the region. An estimated 5 trillion dollars’ worth of traded goods flow through the Sea annually. This includes 80% of China’s oil and natural gas imports which could cripple the Chinese economy if they were halted. Military bases in the region help China protect vulnerable shipping from the United States’ navy.

The South China Sea also holds billions of barrels of oil and natural gas that could fuel the Chinese economy for decades. Control over the region would decrease China’s reliance on foreign energy imports since it has no major domestic oil or natural gas source.

All of this comes as periphery nations to the South China Sea step up military drills so the potential for tensions expanding into a larger conflict is very real here. What do you think about the situation in the South China Sea? Do you think there’s available resolution? Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe. Thank you for watching and have a great day!