India’s stand on South China Sea disputes

Why in news?

• India has asked China to abide by the 2016 arbitration decision, which had ruled in favour of the Philippines and rejected China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.

More about the news:

• In 2013, the Philippines instituted an arbitration proceeding against China in the Permanent Court of Arbitration under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• The arbitration tribunal ruled in favour of the Philippines in 2016, but this was rejected by China, which had called it “null and void”.
• China, which claims rights to most of the South China Sea up to the nine-dash line has become more assertive in recent years leading to flare-ups in the region.

About South China Sea:

• South China Sea is an arm of western Pacific Ocean in Southeast Asia.
• It is south of China, east & south of Vietnam, west of the Philippines and north of the island of Borneo.
• It is connected by Taiwan Strait with the East China Sea and by Luzon Strait with the Philippine Sea.
• It contains numerous shoals, reefs, atolls and islands. The Paracel Islands, the Spratly Islands and the Scarborough Shoal are the most important.

???????Bordering states

• People’s Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam.

Significance:

• Strategic importance:
  • This sea holds tremendous strategic importance for its location as it is the connecting link between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. (Strait of Malacca)
• Trade route:
  • According to the United Nations Conference on Trade And Development (UNCTAD) one-third of the global shipping passes through it, carrying trillions of trade which makes it a significant geopolitical water body.
• Biodiversity
  • This sea has one-third of the entire world’s marine biodiversity and contains lucrative fisheries providing food security to the Southeast Asian nations.
• Oil reserves:
  • South China Sea is believed to have huge oil and gas reserves beneath its seabed.

PRELIMS QUESTION:

Which among the following islands are located in South China Sea?

1. Spratly

2. Diego Garcia

3. Canary

4. Paracel

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1,3 and 4 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 4 only

(d) 2,3 and 4 only

Answer