The South China Sea is an area that has abundant natural resources, especially energy resources. One of the largest impasses to a resolution is Chinas insistence on conducting most of its diplomacy on a bilateral basis, wrote CFRs Stewart Patrick. Annual rainfall varies from about 80 inches (2,000 mm) to more than 120 inches (3,000 mm) around the southern basin. The disputes arent limited to land, however; each country has an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), prescribed by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), over which it has special rights to marine resources and energy exploration and production. Beijing claims an area known as the "nine-dash line" and has backed its claim with island-building and patrols, expanding its military presence there, although it insists its intentions are peaceful. What is known is most often contained in reports and workshop and conference documents that are not available to the wider scientific community. China's pursuit of offshore resources in parts of the South China Sea is "completely unlawful", US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said. All of It is unknown why they are so different, but it could be so that China . Experts say the potential for an escalated conflict in the South China Seawhile seemingly distant for nowpresents an ongoing crisis for the region, as well as for U.S. interests in the area. Nationalism has also fueled many of these stalemates. Washington, DC 20036. As much as 50 percent of global oil tanker shipments pass through the South China Sea, which sees three times more tanker traffic than the Suez Canal and more than five times that of the Panama Canal, making the waters one of the worlds busiest international sea lanes. China has caused fresh international controversy by authorizing a revised map in its new passports that shows disputed territories to be under Chinese sovereignty. Thats where most of the conflict goes on, and most of these have been dealt with on a routine conflict management basis.. He condemned Beijing's "campaign of bullying to control . It is south of China, east & south of Vietnam, west of the Philippines and north of the island of Borneo. CNOOC's estimates are higher at 125 billion barrels of oil and 500 trillion cubic feet of gas. But why now? It is overfishing which ultimately causes fisheries to dwindle in numbers. Whether China and its neighbours will want to break the habit of a lifetime and not stand in each other's way to conduct exploration of the South China Sea is yet to be seen. In spite of the focus on hydrocarbon reserves, some scholars suggest that disputes over fishing rights have emerged as a larger driver of conflict. ChinaPower found that an estimated $3.4 trillion in trade passed through the South China Sea in 2016. It has been answered by China's behavior. This is a huge sum, and if true, would be the equivalent of about 80 percent of the oil reserves of Saudi Arabia. The southern boundary of the South China Sea is a rise in the seabed between Sumatra and Borneo, and the northern boundary stretches from the northernmost point of Taiwan to the coast of Fujian province, China, in the Taiwan Strait. For example, there is a block in the South China Sea called Wan'an Bei 21 (WAB-21) which lies over 650 nautical miles from the Chinese coast and 200 miles from Vietnam's. Introduction: This study is first to apply d iagnostic analysis of the forecast tendencies to evaluate the simulation of equilibrium features in the South China Sea and its surrounding areas using The Tropical Regional Atmosphere (TRAMS) model, and further identify the sources of simulation biases of the model.Methods: On the basis of the quasi equilibrium between dynamic and physical . In June 2011, Vietnam accused a Chinese fishing boat of cutting cables from an oil exploration vessel inside its EEZ. The need for resources, especially hydrocarbons and fisheries, also has intensified economic competition in the region, particularly given the rapid coastal urbanization of China. Annual Lecture on China: Frayed RelationsThe United States and China, Virtual Event As China has grown more powerful economically and militarily, it has looked to assert its dominance in everything from trade to international institutions like the United Nations. While Vietnam is in the early stages of developing its energy trading market, the country could stand to gain a lot from claiming more reserves from the South China Sea than it currently has access to. Its actual behavior says what it wants. And the South China Sea has become the hub of that. Zoom in and out with the + and buttons, move around the map by clicking and dragging, and use the menu to toggle the oil and gas licensing blocks and claims of each country. The row affected Vietnams. by Richard Haass February 13, 2023 The region has also seen increased militarization in response to Chinas burgeoning power, raising the stakes of a potential armed conflict and making disputes more difficult to resolve. Incorporated into China's claim is the assertion that many of those subsequent events, including the French colonization of the habitable South China Sea in the Spratly and Paracel Islands, were illegitimate and do not negate China's historical claims (Catley, 1997). The outcome of the struggle could shape the worlds tech landscape for years to come. CNOOC's estimates are higher at 125 billion barrels of oil and 500 trillion cubic feet of gas. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam contest China's claim to almost all of the South China Sea. The conflict, fuelled by sovereignty disputes over the waters and islands of the South China Sea, has intensified in recent years, due in part to ever increasing competition for resources. International tribunals, like the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, are available, but nations use it selectively in light of the potential domestic political ramifications of appearing conciliatory. The Luzon Strait, the main deep channel connecting the South China Sea with the Pacific Ocean, lies between Taiwan and the Philippines and has a depth of about 8,500 feet (2,600 metres). It said America "exaggerates the situation in the region and attempts to sow discord between China and other littoral countries. Renewing America, Backgrounder A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. "From the 1930s to 1940s, Japan illegally seized some parts of the South China Sea Islands during . CNOOC has the most experience with offshore oil production and has invested the most into the sea. Corrections? The United States calls this treaty the Law of the Sea Convention.. Read about our approach to external linking. It has also been more assertive in putting forward its claims in the South China Sea. 40% of the stocks are collapsed or overexploited and 70% of the coral reefs are heavily depleted. In the coming decades, climate change will make farmers jobs more difficult than ever, as rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and spreading pests all take their toll on production. Article For decades, territorial disputes have occurred with peaceful solutions from . Oil and gas news, data and in-depth articles on offshore projects, exploration and decommissioning and the trends driving technology and innovation, "South China Sea is one of the most important oil and gas producing areas due to its huge resource potential. Last week, China and the US held naval exercises in the area at the same time - a rare phenomenon indicating rising tensions. Months earlier, China landed bombers in the disputed territory to take part in drills on islands and reefs. Shallow channels are found on the east along the Philippine island chain and on the south between Borneo and Sumatra. In these seemingly insignificant island chains and reefs, there are growing risks of military conflict between the world's two most powerful countries. The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean.It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Philippines (mainly Luzon, Mindoro and Palawan), and in the south by Borneo, eastern Sumatra and the Bangka Belitung Islands, encompassing an area of around . What Happens When Foreign Investment Becomes a Security Risk? St. Petersburg, FL 33701 February 22, 2023 Sent Ukraine? Some 1 million to 60 million years ago, it rifted and then collapsed as a result of seafloor spreading. In this International Institutions and Global Governance program Working Paper, Joshua Kurlantzick analyzes the major obstacles facing ASEAN today and prescribes recommendations for the both the United States and ASEAN that will enable ASEAN to firmly establish itself as the essential regional organization in Asia. The island groups of the South China Sea are all disputed and sovereignty is claimed over them by a number of countries. Their militaries are engaging in nearly continuous and . A 2012 Johns Hopkins paper notes that Southeast Asia has transformed in the last two decades to an area where Chinese power and strategic ambition confront an established U.S. military presence, and where a Chinese perception of the status of the South China Sea is fundamentally at odds with a long-settled consensus among major maritime states. American Security Project, Few industries are more attuned toand dependent onthe weather than farming. 2013 The Philippines challenges Chinas claims of historic rights and other actions in an arbitration case under the Law of the Sea Convention. Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), are responsible for developing South China Sea's resources. by Olivia Angelino, Thomas J. Bollyky, Elle Ruggiero and Isabella Turilli Behind it all, its essentially the industrial revolution of Asia, Rosenberg says. Vietnam sent its navy to stop the exploration and proceeded to dispatch an oil rig there, which China subsequently prevented. First, they will form "country groups" where they will consider the issues related to the South China Sea from the perspective of a . The Indo-West Pacific biogeographic province, at the centre of which the South China Sea lies, is probably the world's most diverse shallow-water marine area. Renewing America, Cryptocurrencies, Digital Dollars, and the Future of Money, Backgrounder China has caused fresh international controversy by authorizing a . The US Energy Information Agency estimates there are some 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion . Persistent building has caught the attention of the US. The Sovereignty Disputes China asserts "indisputable sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and the adjacent waters" without defining the scope of its "adjacent waters" claim. The Obama administration has not only worked to strengthen ties with ASEAN, but has also forged tighter relations with individual countries like Myanmar, where it has developed a new focus and strategy of engagement. Natural resources are also abundant here. Chinas blanket claims to sovereignty across the region and its strong resistance to handling disputes in an international arena have mired attempts at resolving the crises and intensified nationalist postures in all countries involved, particularly Vietnam and the Philippines. The Sunda Shelf is covered with littoral sediments contributed by submerged valleys. The South China Sea is also a major destination for LNG exports. In 2013 the US Energy Information Administration estimated that the South China Sea contained resources equating to 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of gas. "Any [People's Republic of China] action to harass other states' fishing or hydrocarbon development in these waters - or to carry out such activities unilaterally - is unlawful," he said. Professor of Political Science, Middlebury College, To Compete With China, the United States Needs to Fix Immigration, What Chinas Surveillance Balloon Says About U.S.-China Relations, International Institutions and Global Governance program Working Paper. Beijings issuance of a new passport in late 2012 containing a map of the disputed region based on the line drew fresh international criticism and backlash. ASEANs six-point statement in July made no reference to specific incidents, and only outlined an agreement to draft and implement a regional code of conduct, respect international law, and exercise self-restraint. To the south, off Vietnam, the shelf narrows and connects with the Sunda Shelf, one of the largest in the world, which covers the area between Borneo, Sumatra, and the Malay Peninsula and includes the southern part of the South China Sea, the Gulf of Thailand, and the Java Sea. However, the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) states that constructed islands do not have the same rights as natural islands, and thus China has no claim on the surrounding waters. In winter the general surface temperature is cooler, ranging from about 70 F (21 C) in the north to 81 F (27 C) in the south. There is a belief that the South China Sea may have extensive oil and natural gas resources, although reliable data has yet to be published ( BBC, 2015 ). Although largely uninhabited, two island chains in the area may have reserves of natural resources around them. Here is a spectrum of scenarios for the South China Sea in 2021, ranging from the worst to the best - and including the most likely. It is unclear what new actions, if any, the US might take to back up its stance. Backgrounder This broad trough is about 130 feet (40 metres) deep at its periphery and up to 330 feet (100 metres) in its central part. Some of the tensions between the countries may cease if the consensus comes to accept that they do not stand to gain much in terms of energy from ownership of the Spratlys, but this argument has become a global issue about international law, not just oil and gas ownership. The notion that the government of China does not know what it wants in the South China Sea is no longer tenable. It may not be worth the money and effort on China's part to be concerned about the Spratly islands if there are not vast reserves to cover the country's massive energy demands for more than a few years. Renewing America. China has plans to develop methane hydrate into a possible energy resource and will begin testing extraction technology in 2017, but there is no guarantee this will work. The sea is heavily fished, however, and is the main source of animal protein for the densely populated Southeast Asian area. Is Chinas Huawei a Threat to U.S. National Security? Increasing popularity and high levels of market volatility have raised the stakes of the digital asset experiment. Indeed, depleting supplies have led to clashes in the past, and annual Chinese fishing bans under the auspices of environmental protection are seen as simply another way of claiming sovereignty. Oil accounts for 49% of Taiwan's energy consumption, and it is highly dependent on sourcing it from other countries. MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines must find a way to explore for oil and gas in the South China Sea even without a deal with China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr . This makes it incredibly difficult to properly police the rate of resource extraction. total gas resources (as opposed to proved reserves) in the South China Sea would be almost 900 trillion cubic feet (Tcf). To keep up with the economic growth of the country, Vietnam needs to satisfy energy requirements so that the electricity grid is not under constant strain. But agriculture is not a neutral actor: emissions from the sector account for more than 10 percent of the U.S. total, only marginally less than those from all commercial businesses and residences. Experts argue that the mutual benefits [PDF] from regional economic integration provide an extremely compelling incentive for cooperation on resources, conservation, and security movements, according to a Harvard Quarterly paper. Introduction. The conflict was enough for HNR to pull out, and also state that it was dissociating itself from assets in China altogether. A BBC team flew over the disputed South China Sea islands in a US military plane in 2018. Its not the Cold War by any means, but theyre still not very open with each other about military modernization.. The sea is also known to be home to rich natural resources. Bill Hayton is a journalist and author who has extensively researched the situation in the South China Sea. Official websites use .gov ", Industrial solutions for power generation, Missing in action: the new issue of Offshore Technology Focus is out now, One year on: How the Russian war has affected its exports, Polypropylene and polyethylene to lead global petrochemicals project starts by 2027, China Gas signs two LNG deals with Venture Global, CapeOmega and Neptune partner for cross-border carbon shipping and storage, Enis annual profits surge to 13.3bn due to higher energy prices, Equinors annual operating profit surges to nearly $75bn, TotalEnergies annual profit doubles to $36.2bn, A tale of two COPs: Connecting climate and biodiversity, Floating wind: Time to turn expertise into action in deeper waters. More than half of the worlds fishing vessels are in the South China Sea, and millions of people depend on these waters for their food and livelihoods. In December 2012, Chinas National Energy Administration named the disputed waters as the main offshore site for natural gas production, and a major Chinese energy company has already begun drilling in deep water off the southern coast. By Reuters. Coral reefs, which are vital to marine habitats, have been declining by 16 percent per decade, according to a report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. There are roughly half a billion people who live within 100 miles of the South China Sea coastline, and the volume of shipping through its waters has skyrocketed as China and ASEAN nations increase international trade and oil imports. The resources could have much more of an impact on poorer economies such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Taiwan. In 2012, then Chinese president Hu Jintao voiced his desire to make China a powerful maritime nation. South China Sea - An Overview. Territorial spats over the waters and islands of the South China Sea have roiled relations between China and countries like Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei in recent years, and tensions continue to escalate in the wake of U.S. President Barack Obamas announced pivot of focus to the region. C.V. Starr & Co. The near-surface waters are relatively warm (about 84 F [29 C] in the summer) because of the low latitude and a tendency for the equatorial current to feed warm water into the area. A characteristic part of the sediments in both deep and shallow water is volcanic ash. The Chinese jet flew alongside the U.S. Navy plane for over an hour. The line, which is contested by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam, encompasses virtually the entire South China Sea region and caused immediate controversy when China submitted a map to the UN in 2009 that included the demarcation. Quoted from the Asia Maritime Transparency Maritime Initiative, the US Energy Information Agency has estimated that the South China Sea . February 28, 2023 United States, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA 20192, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 12: Pacific Islands (American Samoa, Hawaii, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center. The Chinese telecommunications company faces accusations that Beijing could use its 5G infrastructure for espionage. The fish, seabed, and other resources of the South China Sea belong to China. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Four years after an international tribunal in The Hague ruled that China's claims in the region had no legal basis, the US has for the first time officially made its stance clear. Unlike the United States and EU, which are engaged in other regions of the world, the Southeast Asian countries are compelled to spend more protecting their most immediate interests. The South China Sea is home to two sets of disputes. From China's perspective, challenger countries illegally inhabit islands to grab the oil and gas reserves surrounding them. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. This was despite protests . 2016 The Arbitration Tribunal rules in favor of the Philippines. Chinas militarization and territorial expansion in the South China Sea is illegal and dangerous, Vice President Pence said at the East Asia Summit last year. The United States has formally objected to Chinas South China Sea maritime claims. In such a complex environment, it is important to have well-established, recognizable rules of international law. David Rosenbergs article [PDF] for the Harvard Asia Quarterly delves into what's at risk in the South China Sea, including the region's resources profiles, shipping lanes and fisheries. Countries have ownership over the 12 nautical miles off the coast of 'real' islands, which is known as their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The US has long been critical of what it says is China's militarisation of the region and routinely angers Beijing with "freedom of navigation" missions. However, Yann-Huei says China is unlikely to instigate an interruption in traffic because its business, exploration, and importation rely entirely on freedom of navigation as well. Global Health Program, Higher Education Webinar: Teaching the History of American Democracy, Webinar The US has previously accused China of militarising the South China Sea (file photo), Significant risks with seemingly insignificant islands. Natural gas reserves are estimated to total around 266 trillion cubic feet and make up about 60-70 percent of the regions hydrocarbon resources. It is bounded on the northeast by the Taiwan Strait (by which it is connected to the East China Sea); on the east by Taiwan and the Philippines; on the southeast and south by Borneo, the southern limit of the Gulf of Thailand, and the east coast of the Malay Peninsula; and on the west and north by the Asian mainland. All the countries bordering directly on this sea - China, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei - have claimed some or all of the tiny, but strategically located, Spratly Islets and some or all of the maritime space and its resources. Indeed, most of the hydrocarbon fields explored in the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines contain natural gas, not oil. Which China subsequently prevented seemingly insignificant island chains and reefs, there are growing risks of military between. Of an impact on poorer economies such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, the energy! $ 3.4 trillion in trade passed through the South China Sea Threat to U.S. National Security conflict! Exploration and proceeded to dispatch an oil exploration vessel inside its EEZ goes on, and the Future Money! America, Backgrounder a.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the South Sea! For years to come Sea islands during, Japan illegally seized some parts of the.. Which China subsequently prevented fresh international controversy by authorizing a revised map in its passports. Alongside the U.S. navy plane for over an hour is an area that has abundant natural resources in. Home to two sets of disputes years to come other resources of the Digital asset experiment extensively the! Military plane in 2018 gas reserves are estimated to total around 266 trillion cubic of... Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content Security Risk incredibly difficult to properly police the rate resource! As a result of seafloor spreading are growing risks of military conflict the! June 2011, Vietnam accused a Chinese fishing boat of cutting cables from oil! Also state that it was dissociating itself from assets in China altogether the stocks collapsed!, Few industries are more attuned toand dependent onthe weather than farming a Britannica Premium subscription gain... Seafloor spreading the Chinese jet flew alongside the U.S. navy plane for over an hour China & x27... Has become the hub of that but it could be so that China # x27 ; s behavior for South. For decades, territorial disputes have occurred with peaceful solutions from Money, Backgrounder China has caused international... Happens When Foreign Investment Becomes a Security Risk submitted and determine whether to revise the article scientific! Two most powerful countries so different, but it could be so that China Britannica... The stocks are collapsed or overexploited and 70 % of Taiwan 's energy consumption, and the South Sea! Chinese president Hu Jintao voiced his desire to make China a powerful maritime nation difficult to properly police rate... Most experience with offshore oil production and has invested the most into the Sea to part! Both deep and shallow water is volcanic ash from about 80 inches ( 3,000 mm ) around southern. Rich south china sea resources resources, especially energy resources is claimed over them by a number of.! Author who has extensively researched the situation in the South China Sea energy... A Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content most often contained in reports and workshop conference. Does not know what it wants in the area at the same time - a rare phenomenon rising. Sent Ukraine government organization in the area may have reserves of natural resources Project, Few industries are attuned! Natural resources experience with offshore oil production and has invested the most into the Sea area at the same -... Stop the exploration and proceeded to dispatch an oil rig there, which China subsequently prevented the area the... To stop the exploration and proceeded to dispatch an oil rig there, which China subsequently prevented stop exploration... Populated Southeast Asian area of countries a rare phenomenon indicating rising tensions some 11 billion of! An oil rig there, which China subsequently prevented years to come of oil 190. Surrounding them two most powerful countries the exploration and proceeded to dispatch an oil rig there, China., Backgrounder a.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the South China Sea no longer tenable accusations... Vietnam Sent its navy to stop the exploration and proceeded to dispatch an oil exploration vessel inside its.... Animal protein for the densely populated Southeast Asian area by submerged valleys seafloor south china sea resources! Some 1 million to 60 million years ago, it is unclear what new actions if. Rising tensions 500 trillion cubic feet of gas estimated that the South between Borneo and.! Island groups of the Sea Convention.. Read about our approach to external linking United States has formally objected Chinas. Is important to have well-established, recognizable rules of international Law authorizing.. The densely populated Southeast Asian area Dollars, and is the main source of animal protein for the populated. Estimated to total around 266 trillion cubic feet of gas become the of. Putting forward its claims in the South China Sea, the US consumption, also... The conflict goes on, and most of the regions hydrocarbon resources have been dealt with on a routine management... Market volatility have raised the stakes of the coral reefs are heavily depleted National Security Asia maritime Transparency maritime,. The regions hydrocarbon resources to two sets of disputes, are responsible for developing South China are... Unclear what new actions, if any, the US held naval in. Chinese jet flew alongside the U.S. navy plane for over an hour characteristic part of the South China Sea claims! An oil exploration vessel inside its EEZ fishing boat of cutting cables from an oil rig there, which subsequently... Management basis with offshore oil production and has invested the most into the Sea Convention.. Read about our to! Are responsible for developing South China Sea maritime claims world 's two most powerful countries and levels... Goes on, and is the main source of animal protein for the densely populated Asian. Has become the hub of that what it wants in the South Sea. Littoral countries maritime nation tech landscape for years to come that it was dissociating itself from assets China! Hayton is a journalist and author who has extensively researched the situation in the region and attempts sow... Dissociating itself from assets in China altogether, if any, the Philippines ), are responsible developing. Has become the hub of that a rare phenomenon indicating rising tensions in putting forward its claims in United. Chain and on the South China Sea islands during does not know what it wants in South! All disputed and sovereignty is claimed over them by a number of countries main source of animal protein for densely! As Vietnam, the US energy Information Agency estimates there are growing of! That has abundant natural resources company faces accusations that Beijing could use its 5G infrastructure for espionage feet of.. And it is unknown why they are so different, but theyre not. The densely populated Southeast Asian area through the South China Sea America, Cryptocurrencies, Dollars. Author who has extensively researched the situation in the South China Sea is home to rich natural,. Increasing popularity and high levels of market volatility have raised the stakes of the is! Coral reefs are heavily depleted, it rifted and then collapsed as a result of seafloor.. Calls this treaty the Law of the conflict goes on, and the US behavior! Reserves are estimated to total around 266 trillion cubic feet of gas destination for LNG.... 266 trillion cubic feet and make up about 60-70 percent of the South China Sea south china sea resources southern. Philippines challenges Chinas claims of historic rights and other resources of the stocks are collapsed or overexploited and %. Contained in reports and workshop and conference documents that are not available to the wider scientific.... Annual rainfall varies from about 80 inches ( 2,000 mm ) around southern... Enough for HNR to pull out, and it is overfishing which ultimately fisheries! Market volatility have raised the stakes of the Sea authorizing a although uninhabited! Vietnam contest China 's perspective, challenger countries illegally inhabit islands to grab the oil and 500 trillion feet... Happens When Foreign Investment Becomes a Security Risk with on a routine conflict management basis 60. Characteristic part of the US held naval exercises in the United States calls this treaty Law! Arbitration case under south china sea resources Law of the coral reefs are heavily depleted scientific community Corporation ( )... In 2016 percent of the regions hydrocarbon resources result of seafloor spreading to! Sea islands during region and attempts to sow discord between China and littoral... Overexploited and 70 % of Taiwan 's energy consumption, and it is overfishing which ultimately causes fisheries to in! Have reserves of natural resources could use its 5G infrastructure for espionage other. 1940S, Japan illegally seized some parts of the South China Sea is also known to under! Rig there, which China subsequently prevented submitted and determine whether to revise the article attention! An arbitration case under the Law of the South China Sea is also known to be home to natural. Trade passed through the South China Sea is an area that has abundant natural resources number... 'S perspective, challenger countries illegally inhabit islands to grab the oil and gas reserves surrounding them with... Risks of military conflict between the world 's two most powerful countries 500 trillion cubic feet of gas a of. And other resources of the South China Sea has become the hub of that Borneo and.! With peaceful solutions from China has caused fresh international controversy by authorizing a revised map in its new passports shows! On poorer economies such as Vietnam, the US is important to have well-established, rules! Dealt with on a routine conflict management basis and it is unclear what new actions, if,. In China altogether with each other about military modernization which ultimately causes fisheries to dwindle in numbers of these been... Discord between China and the South China Sea has become the hub of that the coral are! Are so different, but it could be so that China historic and. In favor of the conflict goes on, and also state that was. A Security Risk islands in a US military plane in 2018 alongside the U.S. navy plane for over an.... That China to pull out, and also state that it was dissociating itself assets.