Mapping
Context: In recent developments in the South China Sea, tensions have escalated between China and the Philippines.
The Philippines has accused Chinese coastguard vessels of intentionally colliding with its vessels while on a resupply mission in the disputed region near the Second Thomas Shoal within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, where both nations claim sovereignty.
About the South China Sea:
The South China Sea is an arm of the western Pacific Ocean in Southeast Asia. It is located to the south of China, east and south of Vietnam, west of the Philippines, and north of the island of Borneo. It’s a major global shipping route, with about one-third of the world’s shipping passing through it, contributing significantly to its geopolitical significance. There are multiple contested islands in this region, including the
- Paracel Islands (claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam)
- Spratly Islands (claimed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, and the Philippines)
- Scarborough Shoal (claimed by the Philippines, China, and Taiwan)
Additionally, China has been constructing artificial islets in the region since 2010. The 2016 UNCLOS ruling dismissed China’s claims within the nine-dashed line and clarified that the disputed Islands are not its maritime entitlement.
