it’s a territorial argument that’s been raging for centuries but recent
raging for centuries but recent
raging for centuries but recent hostilities in 2015 have ramped up the
hostilities in 2015 have ramped up the
hostilities in 2015 have ramped up the tension between nations
tension between nations
tension between nations welcome to watchmojo.com down 10 crucial
welcome to watchmojo.com down 10 crucial
welcome to watchmojo.com down 10 crucial facts you should know about the South
facts you should know about the South
facts you should know about the South China Sea dispute number 10 what is the
China Sea dispute number 10 what is the
China Sea dispute number 10 what is the current South China Sea dispute an
current South China Sea dispute an
current South China Sea dispute an ongoing territory dispute between China
ongoing territory dispute between China
ongoing territory dispute between China and other Southeast Asian countries the
and other Southeast Asian countries the
and other Southeast Asian countries the problems in the South China Sea largely
problems in the South China Sea largely
problems in the South China Sea largely focus on two island clusters the Spratly
focus on two island clusters the Spratly
focus on two island clusters the Spratly and Paracel Islands China is looking to
and Paracel Islands China is looking to
and Paracel Islands China is looking to expand and establish its command across
expand and establish its command across
expand and establish its command across the sea by gaining control of the two
the sea by gaining control of the two
the sea by gaining control of the two archipelagos but surrounding nations are
archipelagos but surrounding nations are
archipelagos but surrounding nations are refusing to surrender their claims to
refusing to surrender their claims to
refusing to surrender their claims to the land Taiwan Vietnam the Philippines
the land Taiwan Vietnam the Philippines
the land Taiwan Vietnam the Philippines Malaysia and Brunei are all involved in
Malaysia and Brunei are all involved in
Malaysia and Brunei are all involved in this situation which is also causing
this situation which is also causing
this situation which is also causing international tension number nine when
international tension number nine when
international tension number nine when did it begin
did it begin
did it begin China has consistently laid claims to
China has consistently laid claims to
China has consistently laid claims to the entire South China Sea especially
the entire South China Sea especially
the entire South China Sea especially since the 1940s however historical
since the 1940s however historical
since the 1940s however historical disputes and territorial claims date
disputes and territorial claims date
disputes and territorial claims date back further still China says that
back further still China says that
back further still China says that there’s evidence of Chinese nationals
there’s evidence of Chinese nationals
there’s evidence of Chinese nationals using both the Spratly Islands as far
using both the Spratly Islands as far
using both the Spratly Islands as far back as the 3rd century BC on the other
back as the 3rd century BC on the other
back as the 3rd century BC on the other hand in the early 1800s Vietnam surveyed
hand in the early 1800s Vietnam surveyed
hand in the early 1800s Vietnam surveyed the Paracel Islands before beginning to
the Paracel Islands before beginning to
the Paracel Islands before beginning to build on them from this point forward
build on them from this point forward
build on them from this point forward both countries have traded claims to
both countries have traded claims to
both countries have traded claims to ownership with the Philippines
ownership with the Philippines
ownership with the Philippines especially becoming involved in the 20th
especially becoming involved in the 20th
especially becoming involved in the 20th century number 8 what is so special
century number 8 what is so special
century number 8 what is so special about the area for China ownership of
about the area for China ownership of
about the area for China ownership of the island groups is an opportunity to
the island groups is an opportunity to
the island groups is an opportunity to shore up national security despite much
shore up national security despite much
shore up national security despite much of the disputed land being mostly
of the disputed land being mostly
of the disputed land being mostly submerged in water China is using the
submerged in water China is using the
submerged in water China is using the small areas that do rise above sea level
small areas that do rise above sea level
small areas that do rise above sea level as starting points to develop man-made
as starting points to develop man-made
as starting points to develop man-made military bases while China reasons that
military bases while China reasons that
military bases while China reasons that the bases are necessary to protect its
the bases are necessary to protect its
the bases are necessary to protect its vast coastline other countries including
vast coastline other countries including
vast coastline other countries including those vying for ownership and the US are
those vying for ownership and the US are
those vying for ownership and the US are concerned about developments
concerned about developments
concerned about developments furthermore the sea itself is thought to
furthermore the sea itself is thought to
furthermore the sea itself is thought to contain a wealth of unexploited oil
contain a wealth of unexploited oil
contain a wealth of unexploited oil natural gas and other minerals though
natural gas and other minerals though
natural gas and other minerals though reports on the richness of the resources
reports on the richness of the resources
reports on the richness of the resources differ the South China Sea is a valuable
differ the South China Sea is a valuable
differ the South China Sea is a valuable region for anyone able to tap it number
region for anyone able to tap it number
region for anyone able to tap it number seven what are the areas of contention
seven what are the areas of contention
seven what are the areas of contention opposition to China is fueled by Chinese
opposition to China is fueled by Chinese
opposition to China is fueled by Chinese encroachment into other exclusive
encroachment into other exclusive
encroachment into other exclusive economic zones an e ez is an area of
economic zones an e ez is an area of
economic zones an e ez is an area of ocean stretching 200 nautical miles from
ocean stretching 200 nautical miles from
ocean stretching 200 nautical miles from the coast over which any state has
the coast over which any state has
the coast over which any state has authoritative rights according to
authoritative rights according to
authoritative rights according to international law the Paracel Islands
international law the Paracel Islands
international law the Paracel Islands have been under Chinese control since
have been under Chinese control since
have been under Chinese control since 2012 despite the fact that they also
2012 despite the fact that they also
2012 despite the fact that they also fall within Viet Nam’s EEZ the more
fall within Viet Nam’s EEZ the more
fall within Viet Nam’s EEZ the more southerly spratly islands are situated
southerly spratly islands are situated
southerly spratly islands are situated in an even more complex position within
in an even more complex position within
in an even more complex position within which the maritime claims for six
which the maritime claims for six
which the maritime claims for six countries overlap in terms of area the
countries overlap in terms of area the
countries overlap in terms of area the spratly islands cover over 160,000
spratly islands cover over 160,000
spratly islands cover over 160,000 square miles but only around 1.5 of
square miles but only around 1.5 of
square miles but only around 1.5 of those are above sea level the South
those are above sea level the South
those are above sea level the South China Sea itself is an area of around
China Sea itself is an area of around
China Sea itself is an area of around 1.4 million square miles with China
1.4 million square miles with China
1.4 million square miles with China seeking sovereignty over the vast
seeking sovereignty over the vast
seeking sovereignty over the vast majority number six who is involved in
majority number six who is involved in
majority number six who is involved in the conflict Vietnam is especially
the conflict Vietnam is especially
the conflict Vietnam is especially involved in the Paracel Islands dispute
involved in the Paracel Islands dispute
involved in the Paracel Islands dispute but also has a strong interest in the
but also has a strong interest in the
but also has a strong interest in the Spratly situation given that they
Spratly situation given that they
Spratly situation given that they currently control the greatest number of
currently control the greatest number of
currently control the greatest number of islands at 29 the Philippines are
islands at 29 the Philippines are
islands at 29 the Philippines are heavily involved in the Spratly standoff
heavily involved in the Spratly standoff
heavily involved in the Spratly standoff as well with the EECS of Malaysia and
as well with the EECS of Malaysia and
as well with the EECS of Malaysia and Brunei also drawn into the dispute the
Brunei also drawn into the dispute the
Brunei also drawn into the dispute the conflict is felt even further afield
conflict is felt even further afield
conflict is felt even further afield though as the South China Sea represents
though as the South China Sea represents
though as the South China Sea represents one of the planet’s busiest shipping
one of the planet’s busiest shipping
one of the planet’s busiest shipping routes India especially has called for a
routes India especially has called for a
routes India especially has called for a solution as it frequently exports and
solution as it frequently exports and
solution as it frequently exports and imports through the region while the
imports through the region while the
imports through the region while the United States is another major
United States is another major
United States is another major international power that is indirectly
international power that is indirectly
international power that is indirectly affected number 5 who claims to own the
affected number 5 who claims to own the
affected number 5 who claims to own the territory much of the dispute is built
territory much of the dispute is built
territory much of the dispute is built on China’s insistence that a so-called
on China’s insistence that a so-called
on China’s insistence that a so-called nine-dash line be adhered to a
nine-dash line be adhered to a
nine-dash line be adhered to a demarcation line which encircles almost
demarcation line which encircles almost
demarcation line which encircles almost all of the South China Sea including the
all of the South China Sea including the
all of the South China Sea including the Spratly and Paracel Islands it was
Spratly and Paracel Islands it was
Spratly and Paracel Islands it was originally conceived by China in
originally conceived by China in
originally conceived by China in 19:47 a geopolitical marker made amid a
19:47 a geopolitical marker made amid a
19:47 a geopolitical marker made amid a post-world war international dividing of
post-world war international dividing of
post-world war international dividing of territory the nine-dash line was
territory the nine-dash line was
territory the nine-dash line was originally drawn up by the Republic of
originally drawn up by the Republic of
originally drawn up by the Republic of China
China
China which is now Taiwan it therefore forms
which is now Taiwan it therefore forms
which is now Taiwan it therefore forms the basis of Taiwanese South China Sea
the basis of Taiwanese South China Sea
the basis of Taiwanese South China Sea claims as well in 2009 China submitted a
claims as well in 2009 China submitted a
claims as well in 2009 China submitted a map to the UN that included the
map to the UN that included the
map to the UN that included the nine-dash line it was immediately
nine-dash line it was immediately
nine-dash line it was immediately protested by the Philippines Malaysia
protested by the Philippines Malaysia
protested by the Philippines Malaysia and Vietnam as of 2015 no further claims
and Vietnam as of 2015 no further claims
and Vietnam as of 2015 no further claims to the nine – territory have been
to the nine – territory have been
to the nine – territory have been officially lodged number four how have
officially lodged number four how have
officially lodged number four how have countries staked their territory perhaps
countries staked their territory perhaps
countries staked their territory perhaps the defining image of the dispute is the
the defining image of the dispute is the
the defining image of the dispute is the one inspired by the Philippine
one inspired by the Philippine
one inspired by the Philippine resistance to China’s territorial claim
resistance to China’s territorial claim
resistance to China’s territorial claim a one-time u.s. Navy ship the Sierra
a one-time u.s. Navy ship the Sierra
a one-time u.s. Navy ship the Sierra Madre was grounded by the Philippines at
Madre was grounded by the Philippines at
Madre was grounded by the Philippines at second Thomas shoal in 1999 a disputed
second Thomas shoal in 1999 a disputed
second Thomas shoal in 1999 a disputed area that lies a little over 100
area that lies a little over 100
area that lies a little over 100 nautical miles from the Philippines and
nautical miles from the Philippines and
nautical miles from the Philippines and more than 800 miles from China it has
more than 800 miles from China it has
more than 800 miles from China it has served as an outpost of sorts for Manila
served as an outpost of sorts for Manila
served as an outpost of sorts for Manila although its effectiveness is waning by
although its effectiveness is waning by
although its effectiveness is waning by the day Chinese Coast Guard cutters pan
the day Chinese Coast Guard cutters pan
the day Chinese Coast Guard cutters pan the Sierra Madre in forcing its small
the Sierra Madre in forcing its small
the Sierra Madre in forcing its small crew into an extremely isolated
crew into an extremely isolated
crew into an extremely isolated existence on board an ever decaying
existence on board an ever decaying
existence on board an ever decaying vessel China seems prepared to wait the
vessel China seems prepared to wait the
vessel China seems prepared to wait the situation out in what is from an
situation out in what is from an
situation out in what is from an international perspective a David versus
international perspective a David versus
international perspective a David versus Goliath situation number three how has
Goliath situation number three how has
Goliath situation number three how has this affected the region as the
this affected the region as the
this affected the region as the situation has escalated relatively
situation has escalated relatively
situation has escalated relatively quickly in recent years international
quickly in recent years international
quickly in recent years international tension has spread further north with
tension has spread further north with
tension has spread further north with Japan allegedly on the edge of becoming
Japan allegedly on the edge of becoming
Japan allegedly on the edge of becoming involved as well in November 2015
involved as well in November 2015
involved as well in November 2015 Japanese media reported that the
Japanese media reported that the
Japanese media reported that the country’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a
country’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a
country’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a was quote opposed to all unilateral
was quote opposed to all unilateral
was quote opposed to all unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the
attempts to change the status quo in the
attempts to change the status quo in the South China Sea the reports were
South China Sea the reports were
South China Sea the reports were subsequently confirmed by other Japanese
subsequently confirmed by other Japanese
subsequently confirmed by other Japanese officials as the nation preempts the
officials as the nation preempts the
officials as the nation preempts the effect that far-flung Chinese air bases
effect that far-flung Chinese air bases
effect that far-flung Chinese air bases could have on its security Japan is also
could have on its security Japan is also
could have on its security Japan is also concerned about the damage that a
concerned about the damage that a
concerned about the damage that a Chinese controlled sea could inflict on
Chinese controlled sea could inflict on
Chinese controlled sea could inflict on its economy
its economy
its economy due to the disruption of trade routes
due to the disruption of trade routes
due to the disruption of trade routes number two why did the United States get
number two why did the United States get
number two why did the United States get involved the u.s. launched a freedom of
involved the u.s. launched a freedom of
involved the u.s. launched a freedom of navigation operation in late October
navigation operation in late October
navigation operation in late October 2015
2015
2015 moving the USS lassen a guided missile
moving the USS lassen a guided missile
moving the USS lassen a guided missile destroyer to within 12 nautical miles of
destroyer to within 12 nautical miles of
destroyer to within 12 nautical miles of an area known as mischief reef a spot
an area known as mischief reef a spot
an area known as mischief reef a spot situated in the Spratly Islands mischief
situated in the Spratly Islands mischief
situated in the Spratly Islands mischief reef is a prime example of how China is
reef is a prime example of how China is
reef is a prime example of how China is developing military bases but America’s
developing military bases but America’s
developing military bases but America’s decision to deploy a significant warship
decision to deploy a significant warship
decision to deploy a significant warship into the region served as a statement of
into the region served as a statement of
into the region served as a statement of intent to Beijing the USA says its major
intent to Beijing the USA says its major
intent to Beijing the USA says its major concern relates to the impact the
concern relates to the impact the
concern relates to the impact the Chinese actions could have on
Chinese actions could have on
Chinese actions could have on international trade while speculation
international trade while speculation
international trade while speculation continues to mount regarding China’s
continues to mount regarding China’s
continues to mount regarding China’s military intentions number one how will
military intentions number one how will
military intentions number one how will this end
this end
this end China has shown perseverance and
China has shown perseverance and
China has shown perseverance and aggression in pushing the situation to
aggression in pushing the situation to
aggression in pushing the situation to its current point with America already
its current point with America already
its current point with America already involved Japan edging ever closer to
involved Japan edging ever closer to
involved Japan edging ever closer to involvement and support for and against
involvement and support for and against
involvement and support for and against the Chinese being given by other nations
the Chinese being given by other nations
the Chinese being given by other nations the South China Sea has become a
the South China Sea has become a
the South China Sea has become a priority region for international
priority region for international
priority region for international affairs should the dispute develop into
affairs should the dispute develop into
affairs should the dispute develop into a us-china standoff the intention is
a us-china standoff the intention is
a us-china standoff the intention is only set to rise with China widely
only set to rise with China widely
only set to rise with China widely considered a superpower of the future if
considered a superpower of the future if
considered a superpower of the future if not already any outcome will be
not already any outcome will be
not already any outcome will be indicative of just how influential the
indicative of just how influential the
indicative of just how influential the Chinese are and could be if China’s
Chinese are and could be if China’s
Chinese are and could be if China’s claim to the sea is recognized then
claim to the sea is recognized then
claim to the sea is recognized then their global profile will soar even
their global profile will soar even
their global profile will soar even higher did these facts get you thinking
higher did these facts get you thinking
higher did these facts get you thinking to vote for which news story is covered
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