In the South China Sea, several countries are disputing maritime territories, most of which were artificially created. Among these countries are Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Taiwan. China has already asserted its dominance in the region and has developed many habitable islands. However, its neighbors appear to have followed suit.
Undisputed Domination?
On Earth, there are many strategically sensitive areas, some of which are relatively unknown. For about the past fifteen years, two archipelagos have been the subject of significant disagreements involving at least six countries in the South China Sea. These are the Paracel Islands and the Spratly Islands, further south.
Originally, these archipelagos were uninhabited coral reefs with dozens of islands and atolls, totaling about 1,500 km of coastline. However, since the early 2010s, China has launched expeditions and developed every small piece of land. The goal? To turn them into habitable islands, mostly to establish military outposts or bases. A city has even emerged from the ground: Sansha. In just a few years, China has imposed its dominance in the region despite claims from neighboring countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, and even the Sultanate of Brunei.
As Forbes explained in an article from November 22, 2024, these countries seem to have taken a page from China’s playbook, developing about 70 islands, which are also equipped with military facilities. For instance, Vietnam and Malaysia now occupy 21 and 5 locations in the Spratly Islands, respectively, which was not the case not long ago.
The Stakes and Growing Tensions Around These Islands
But why are all these countries investing so much effort in the conquest and development of these archipelagos? A 2012 report published by the Centre for Advanced Marine Studies (CESM) in Paris already gave an insight into the situation at the time. In reality, the countries involved, with China at the forefront, aim to expand their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). According to international law, EEZs are maritime areas over which coastal states exercise both sovereign and economic rights, extending up to 370 km from their coastlines.
This concept of EEZs naturally implies the exploitation of natural resources. In 2012, China only controlled 880,000 km² of EEZ, but it had already recognized the value of seizing the 3.5 million km² that the Paracel and Spratly Islands could offer. Beyond the potential for exploiting marine resources, this also represents maritime dominance and, for China, a way to catch up with other global powers. It’s worth noting that the EEZs of certain countries far exceed China’s, such as those of the United States (12 million km²), France (11 million km²), and Japan (4.4 million km²).
At the outset of Chinese exploration, the primary goal was clear: to expand its rights to fishery resources. Soon after, oil reserves were discovered. However, China is now disrupting these activities by largely controlling the area, particularly with around twenty developments on the Paracel Islands, a region traversed by major shipping routes. The situation is thus becoming increasingly tense, especially with the recent return to power of Donald Trump in the United States, a close ally of the Philippines and Taiwan, China’s small but resilient neighbor.
Source : Science Post
