South China Sea Territorial Disputes and PCA Ruling

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China recently reiterated its strong rejection of the **2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration** ruling regarding South China Sea territorial claims, declaring the legal decision illegal and invalid.

The South China Sea is a vital marginal sea located in the western **Pacific Ocean**, serving as a global trade highway and the center of overlapping territorial disputes.

Geographically, this sea lies in Southeast Asia, situated south of mainland **China**, east of **Vietnam**, west of the **Philippines**, and north of **Borneo** and **Sumatra** islands.

Key maritime channels connect this sea: the **Taiwan Strait** links it to the **East China Sea**, the **Luzon Strait** connects to the **Philippine Sea**, and the **Strait of Malacca** provides access to the **Indian Ocean**.

Six regional entities border this body of water, including **China**, **Taiwan**, the **Philippines**, **Vietnam**, **Malaysia**, **Brunei**, and **Indonesia**.

China uses a boundary marker called the **Nine-Dash Line** to claim sovereignty over nearly **90%** of the entire South China Sea.
The **Spratly Islands** consist of over **100** small islands, reefs, and atolls in the south, claimed fully or partially by **China**, **Vietnam**, the **Philippines**, **Malaysia**, and **Taiwan**.
Located in the northwest, the **Paracel Islands** have been occupied by **China** since **1974**, though **Vietnam** and **Taiwan** also claim sovereignty over them.
The **Scarborough Shoal** is a strategic triangular reef chain rich in marine life, situated near the **Luzon** island of the **Philippines**.
According to the **U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)**, the seabed holds immense resources, including about **11 billion barrels of oil** and **190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas**.
As a biological hotspot, this region accounts for over **10%** of global wild-capture fish catches, sustaining food supply and livelihoods across Southeast Asia.

More than **one-third** of total global maritime shipping passes through these waters, meaning any conflict here could derail worldwide energy supplies and industrial supply chains.
**China** has converted several natural reefs into fortified military outposts equipped with airstrips, radar stations, and missile platforms, heightening regional security risks.