South China Sea

Why in news?

• Tensions in the South China Sea escalated as China and Philippines traded accusations following two collisions between Chinese vessels and Philippine boats during a resupply mission near Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed Spratly Islands.

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 trades 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.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

How many of the following are bordering South China Sea?

1. Taiwan
2. Japan
3. Malaysia
4. Australia

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All the four

Answer