South China Sea and the Nine-Dash Line: Importance, Dispute, International Law, and Geopolitical Aspects

The South China Sea: Overview

• The South China Sea is one of the most crucial maritime regions in Southeast Asia, known for its strategic, economic, and geopolitical importance.
  It has been a long-standing area of dispute between China and several neighboring countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
• Major disputed island groups include:
  • Paracel Islands – Disputed between China and Vietnam.
  • Spratly Islands – Disputed among China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei.
  • Scarborough Shoal – Disputed between China and the Philippines.

Importance of the South China Sea

1. Strategic Waterway:
   • It is one of the busiest sea routes in the world.
   • Nearly $3 trillion worth of global trade passes through this sea every year.
2. Natural Resources:
   • Rich in oil, natural gas, and fisheries.
   • The sea serves as a vital source of livelihood and energy for surrounding nations.
3. Military and Security Significance:
   • Contains several strategically vital islands, reefs, and shoals.
   • Regional powers, particularly China, have increased military installations in the area to strengthen control.

What is the Nine-Dash Line ?

• The Nine-Dash Line represents China’s controversial claim over about 90% of the South China Sea.
• The line appears as nine dashes on Chinese maritime maps.
• Origin: First introduced by China in 1947, and later revised officially into nine segments.

Dispute:

• Other claimant countries — the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei — reject China’s claim.
• In 2013, the Philippines brought the case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• In 2016, the PCA ruled that China’s “historic rights” claim within the Nine-Dash Line had no legal basis.

International Law and the Legal Dispute

• UNCLOS (1982):
  • Grants each coastal state Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rights up to 200 nautical miles from its shore.
  • The Nine-Dash Line overlaps with the EEZs of other Southeast Asian countries.
• 2016 PCA Ruling:
  • The court ruled in favor of the Philippines, declaring that China’s Nine-Dash Line is illegal under international law.
  • Despite the ruling, China continues to maintain military and economic activities within the area.

Key Disputed Areas

• Spratly Islands: Center of military and economic competition among multiple countries.
• Paracel Islands: Occupied by China since 1974 after conflict with Vietnam.
• Scarborough Shoal: Hotspot of tensions between China and the Philippines.

Geopolitical Dimensions

1. China’s Perspective:
   • Considers the Nine-Dash Line as part of its historical sovereignty.
   • Views the area as vital for security, maritime resources, and national pride.
2. Southeast Asian Countries’ Perspective:
   • Regard China’s claim as illegal and contrary to international law.
   • Seek diplomatic, legal, and multilateral support to counter Beijing’s influence.
3. United States and Western Powers:
   • Advocate for “Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs)” to challenge China’s maritime claims.
   • View the South China Sea as essential for global trade and strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific region.

Conclusion

• The South China Sea dispute represents one of the most complex territorial and maritime conflicts in modern geopolitics.
• While international law clearly rejects China’s Nine-Dash Line, the region remains a flashpoint for power rivalry, energy competition, and strategic influence — shaping the broader Indo-Pacific geopolitical order.