The Spratly Islands dispute involves multiple countries claiming sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and surrounding waters in the South China Sea. The islands are strategically and economically important as they are near major shipping lanes and may contain significant oil and natural gas reserves. China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam all claim some or all of the islands based on historical control or interpretations of international law. There have been increasing tensions as countries occupy more of the disputed territory and China objects to foreign naval presence. Skirmishes and harassment have occurred between Chinese and Filipino vessels, threatening local fishermen and challenging territorial claims.
The Spratly Islands dispute involves multiple countries claiming sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and surrounding waters in the South China Sea. The islands are strategically and economically important as they are near major shipping lanes and may contain significant oil and natural gas reserves. China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam all claim some or all of the islands based on historical control or interpretations of international law. There have been increasing tensions as countries occupy more of the disputed territory and China objects to foreign naval presence. Skirmishes and harassment have occurred between Chinese and Filipino vessels, threatening local fishermen and challenging territorial claims.
The Spratly Islands dispute involves multiple countries claiming sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and surrounding waters in the South China Sea. The islands are strategically and economically important as they are near major shipping lanes and may contain significant oil and natural gas reserves. China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam all claim some or all of the islands based on historical control or interpretations of international law. There have been increasing tensions as countries occupy more of the disputed territory and China objects to foreign naval presence. Skirmishes and harassment have occurred between Chinese and Filipino vessels, threatening local fishermen and challenging territorial claims.
The Spratly Islands dispute involves multiple countries claiming sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and surrounding waters in the South China Sea. The islands are strategically and economically important as they are near major shipping lanes and may contain significant oil and natural gas reserves. China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam all claim some or all of the islands based on historical control or interpretations of international law. There have been increasing tensions as countries occupy more of the disputed territory and China objects to foreign naval presence. Skirmishes and harassment have occurred between Chinese and Filipino vessels, threatening local fishermen and challenging territorial claims.
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Context – Spratly Islands Dispute
The Spratly Islands dispute is an ongoing territorial dispute between China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, concerning "ownership" of the Spratly Islands, a group of islands and associated "maritime features" (reefs, banks, cays, etc.) located in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea. The dispute is characterized by diplomatic stalemate and the employment of military pressure techniques (such as military occupation of disputed territory) in the advancement of national territorial claims.
There has been a sharp rise in media coverage owing mainly to China's increasingly vocal objection to the presence of American naval vessels transiting the area in order to assert the right to freedom of navigation within international waters.
The Spratly Islands are important for economic and strategic reasons. The Spratly area holds potentially significant, but largely unexplored, reserves of oil and natural gas, it is a productive area for world fishing, it is one of the busiest areas of commercial shipping traffic, and surrounding countries would get an extended continental shelf if their claims were recognized. In addition to economic incentives, the Spratlys sit astride major maritime trade routes to Northeast Asia, giving them added significance as positions from which to monitor maritime activity in the South China Sea and to potentially base and project military force from. In 2014, China drew increased international attention due to its dredging activities within the Spratlys, amidst speculation it is planning to further develop its military presence in the area. In 2015 satellite imagery revealed that China was rapidly constructing an airfield on Fiery Cross Reef within the Spratlys whilst continuing its land reclamation activities at other sites. China (PRC), Taiwan (ROC), and Vietnam have made claims based on historical sovereignty of the islands. The Philippines, however, claims part of the area as its territory under UNCLOS, an agreement parts of which have been ratified by the countries involved in the Spratly islands dispute.
Skirmishes, standoffs, harassment in West Philippine Sea
Untoward incidents are commonly reported in the West Philippine Sea before and after the Philippines won its case against China at The Hague. These incidents in the Philippines-China row that include harassment and standoffs, among others, typically don't just target state authorities but also affect local fisherfolks. These harassments done by the Chinese include: Shots fired by Chinese ships instructing Filipino fishing boats to leave; Building of Chinese military garrisons and outposts; Chinese fishing boats venturing into the Scarborough Shoal; Chinese Coast Guard vessel reportedly fired a water cannon at Filipino fishermen in the Bajo de Masinloc; Unbalanced barter trades in favor of the Chinese; Filipino journalists banned from taking videos neat Panatag Shoal by the Chinese Coast Guard; and intimidation. References: https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/232906-timeline-skirmishes-standoffs-harassment- west-philippine-sea https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/233394-timeline-chinese-sinking-filipino-boat-gem- ver-west-philippine-sea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines_and_the_Spratly_Islands
