In the early 1990s, the South China Sea became an internationally observed trouble spot: territorial and maritime claims of many states collided.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) adopted in 1982, is seen as the main cause of the conflict. It allows coastal states to control all submarine resources in a 200 sea mile zone around their coast. In the South China Sea the convention leads to numerous colliding claims.
Already in the 1970s and 1980s, the conflict parties, especially Vietnam, the Philippines and China, occupied several islands. However, military conflicts remained scarce. When China occupied another island claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines in 1994, this was seen as a threat to the regional order and to the dominant position of the USA in this region.
The first decade of the 21st century proceeded without any significant bilateral provocations. In HSFK-Report No. 2/2014 "Konfliktherd Südchinesisches Meer", Peter Kreuzer analyzes why this status has changed in the last four years and how China, Vietnam and the Philippines have tried to assert their claims. These attempts include the symbolic renaming of large marine areas and media-hyped military provocations on the high seas.
The study's second focus analyzes the embedding of local conflict dynamics in the security-policy strategies and action patterns of two important external powers in the region: the USA and Japan. The authors suggests, the United States should oppose the policy of exclusion towards China, exercised by the Philippines and Japan, as it increases the danger of an escalation in the region. Peter Kreuzer rather calls for an inclusive strategy that diplomatically resigns control but demonstrates strategic trust.
This HSFK-Report is available at PRIF for 6€ or as a free PDF download.