The Spratly Dilemma: External Powers and Dispute Resolution Mechanisms

The Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea are areas dotted with numerous offshore and mid-ocean islands, and China bordering all three China Seas, has maritime jurisdictional disputes with neighboring littoral states that include among others continental shelf demarcation conflict with North Korea, South Korea, and Japan in the Yellow Sea; territorial disputes with Japan over sovereignty of the Senkaku (Diaoyudao) Islands in the East China Sea; maritime delimitation and territorial disputes over the Spratly and Paracel Islands with Southeast Asian countries and Taiwan in the South China Sea. The
territorial dispute in Spratly islands is perceived by pundits and government officials alike as the most dangerous and potential international security flashpoint due to its geographical complexity and the number of claimants, strengthened by UNCLOS- sanctioned extension of national jurisdiction over maritime resources for littoral or coastal states. This commentary attempts to understand recent developments in the South China Sea focusing on the role of China and the United States that may trigger potential hostilities. It will propose viable dispute resolution mechanisms in view of rising tensions in South China Sea due to increased US involvement and Beijing’s rejection of its” interference”.