The South China Sea: From Hostility To Stability

The South China Sea (SCS) is an important sea lane of communication to the Asia- Pacific region and facilitates the transportation of about one-fourth of the global crude
oil including liquefied natural gas to the East Asia. The economic growth rate of East Asia is among the highest in the world and is accompanied by an increase demand for
energy. The SCS is also rich in natural resources such as oil and natural gas. Therefore, the overlapping claims by littoral states on the Spratly Islands in the SCS is a source of flash point as evident in 1995. Driven by the economic growth in the Southeast Asian countries as well and the need of energy security for East Asia, the disagreement over Spratly Islands has become dormant for nearly a decade among the major claimants. This paper examines the political and economic perspectives of the countries in the Asia Pacific region in changing the SCS into an area of peace and
stability. For this reason, the security and safety of sea lanes of communication is another commitment in the region.