In a recent forum held in Beijing, Chinese experts shed light on the underlying causes of instability in the South China Sea. The discussions, organized by the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI), highlighted several factors contributing to the current turbulence in the region.
According to Wu Shicun, chairman of the Huayang Research Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, the actions taken by China in the Nansha Qundao are strategic measures aimed at countering the Philippines' arbitration claims and strengthening China's position over the disputed islands and reefs. Wu emphasized that these measures are both reasonable and lawful.
Hu Bo, director of the Center for Maritime Strategy Studies at Peking University, reiterated that China's sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea have remained consistent and continuous. Hu attributed the present instability to two main factors: the attempts by some claimant countries, including the Philippines, to alter the status quo, and the increased involvement of the United States through military deterrence measures.
Reflecting on historical context, Hu noted that the South China Sea was relatively more stable from the end of the Cold War until 2009, a period during which the United States paid less attention to the region. The experts also criticized the 2016 arbitral award, labeling it as an illegal decision made by a tribunal without jurisdiction, thereby rendering it null and void under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Furthering the discussion, experts like Lei Xiaolu from Wuhan University and Zheng Zhihua from Shanghai Jiao Tong University highlighted the lack of legitimacy of the arbitral award and its contravention of China's rights under UNCLOS. They also warned against the United States' attempts to escalate tensions by promoting narratives around freedom of navigation and overflight, which they argue complicates the regional dynamics.
Despite acknowledging these challenges, the experts collectively believe that the situation in the South China Sea is less tense than often portrayed by certain countries and media outlets. Yan Yan, director of the Research Center for Oceans Law and Policy at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, stated, \"It is the United States that poses the greatest threat to the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.\" Yan criticized the US for interpreting international maritime laws in a manner that serves its national interests, thereby imposing its standards on regional countries.
The forum underscored the importance of addressing these root causes to achieve lasting stability in the South China Sea, emphasizing a need for cooperative and lawful approaches to maritime governance.
Reference(s):
Experts weigh in on real threats to stability in South China Sea
cgtn.com
