1

In-depth Chart Of Disputed Area

2

Background on South China Sea Island Resources At Stake

Dubbed by China as the “Second Persian Sea”

Plans by China over the next 20 years to produce 25 million metric tons of oil and natural gas per year.

Area is rich in oil and natural gas deposits, Ministry of Geology in China was quoted “The South China Sea may contain 17.7 billion tons of crude oil.” (Comparatively Kuwait has an estimated 13 billion tons.)

Estimates for natural gas range from 900 trillion cubic feet to 2 quadrillion cubic feet.) (According to U.S. Energy Information Administration the U.S. as of 2010 has 317.6 trillion cubic feet)

3

Resources At Stake Continued The massive fishing opportunities are another

resource that is being fought over. In 1988 the area was the site of 8% of all fish

caught and has grown since that data was taken. The area is also one of the busiest shipping

routes in the world with over 270 merchant ships a day and half the world’s tonnage in oil passing through it

This traffic is comparatively three times greater than that of the Suez Canal and five times greater than the Panama Canal.

Economists from China have estimated the value of the area’s resources at over a trillion dollars a year.

4

Overview of Land Area

5

Island Chains In The SCS

Spratly Islands Paracel Islands

6

Current Situation

Starting in 1996 Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and other countries asserted claims among territory that China had previously claimed.

The U.N Convention on the Law of the Sea came into effect on Nov. 16th 1994 to try and fix the territorial issues but only caused more problems.

On July 20th 2011 China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam set guidelines for cooperation for marine environmental protection, scientific research, safety, and communication but failed to resolve the fight over the oil and gas resources.

7

Ownership Of Islands Per Country As of 2012 all of the Paracel Islands

are under Chinese control. Vietnamese troops control 29 islands

in the Spratly chain. The Philippines controls 8 islands,

Malaysia controls 5, Brunei controls two and Taiwan controls 1.

8

What The Media Is Missing Media outlets mainly focusing on

military stats of the countries and their ability to forcibly retake the area.

China is largest threat with access to a 126 billion dollar defense budget compared to a 3 billion dollar budget of the Philippines.

Best way to weigh claims of competing countries is to look at historical claims to the area.

9

History of SCS Claims

While not an official claim, anthropologists have discovered Tang and Song dynasty era relics dating to the 13th century on the islands

First Claim made by Vietnamese emperor Gia Long in 1816 of the Paracel Islands for Vietnam. (Began building housing in 1835)

1876 – China makes first documented claim to the Paracel Islands

1902 – China incorporates the Paracel Islands into the Guangdong Province

10

History of SCS Claims Cont’d 1927 – Japan makes the earliest

documented claim to the Paracel and Spratley Islands

1931 – France makes claim to the Paracel Islands

1939 – Japan occupies the area by force and takes control of the SCS

1946 – China forcefully retakes several of the Spratly Islands

1952 – Japan renounced any claim of sovereignty over the Islands as per the San Francisco Peace Treaty after WWII.

11

History of SCS Claims Cont’d 1954- French claims to the Paracel Islands

are transferred to Vietnam 1956 – North Vietnam claim Paracel and

Spratly Islands as historically Chinese territory

1971 – Philippines claims islands adjacent to its territory in the Spratleys (Kalayaan)

1974 – China kicks out all South Vietnamese troops from the Paracel Islands

1975 – Newly formed Vietnam restates claim of islands that they had been kicked out of.

12

Question Still Need To Be Answered No clear ending in sight, several U.N.

resolutions have been made concerning the issue and have not made any progress

Current guidelines on conduct based on 2002 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) treaty but the treaty is weak with China and many other countries often ignoring parts of it.

China being a permanent member on the U.N. security council and having the strongest military force in the area remains stalwart in the claim over the entire area.

13

U.S. Recent Response To China SCS is of vital importance to the U.S. due to the naval

presence in the area which is indispensable by keeping China somewhat reigned in.

July 2012 – U.S. senate passed resolution 524 that reaffirmed the 2002 ASEAN treaty and the U.S.’s commitment to assist the nations of the area and keep the waterways independent as well as supporting an enhanced military operation in the area.

In 2014 the U.S. responded to China’s claim over the entire SCS by saying: “China has not offered any explanation or basis under international law for these maritime claims.”

U.S. Navy Captain Jonathen Greenert was quoted in February of this year as pledging American support to the Philippines in its territorial conflict with China.

China responded in turn by asking the U.S. to remain neutral and to not take sides on the issue as well as condemning this remark. 14