China’s Nine-Dash Line in The South China Sea
The article, Philippines: Calming Tensions in the South China Sea, from the International Crisis Group focuses on the constant tensions between China and the Philippines located in the South China Sea over the Second Thomas Shoal. China escalated the situation by blocking Philippine supply ships and dismissing the 2016 international tribunal ruling. The article also mentions possible solutions such as coalition building to prevent global power intervention.
There are two ways to clearly understand the conflict between these two countries, through its local conflict over resources and territory and the broader issues like the global powers like the U.S. and China.
The core conflict is over territory. Each country claims areas in the South China Sea including the Second Thomas Shoal. China was capable of blocking the Philippines from resupplying the outpost, which created dangerous confrontation with the Phillipines military as that was their outpost location. Filipino fishermen were negatively affected because they lost access to their most common fishing area and the military was struggling to maintain control of their territory.
This tension between the countries is not new, it goes back to the 1990s, when China expanded its presence in the region. The international court, in 2016, ruled in favor of the Philippines which dismissed China’s territorial claims. In spite of this, China ignored the international court ruling and continued to build their artificial islands with military bases making it nearly impossible for small countries, like the Philippines, to go against them.
This conflict did not just negatively affect the ones involved, but the South China Sea is one of the most vital trade routes in the world, causing other countries that were allies like the United States to get involved. The Phillipines and the U.S. had this alliship where if there was an attack on the Philippines, they could draw in American forces. Therefore, this causes a bigger conflict between the U.S. and China.
The European Union intervened and suggested solutions to reduce conflict between the countries, such as supporting international law, improving coast guard cooperation, and promoting peace talks. Being that the EU aligns closely with the U.S., it may not be seen as a neutral party.
All in all, the resolution of the conflict matters because the South China Sea is a crucial factor to the third of the world’s shipping ports. If tension continues to ride, trade would be disrupted which negatively affects the economy as a whole. This is an example of how local issues, like disagreements over territories, can cause a broader crisis. Such example as shoes how countries act in their own self-interest to gain power and protect their security. China wants control over the sea, while the U.S. and its allies want to prevent one country from taking over. This creates a constant issue where each country feels threatened.