Why is the South China Sea such a hotspot?

Australia's declaration that there is no legal basis for China's claims to most of the South China Sea has been a long time coming.

Why has the South China Sea become the focus of such dispute? Why do just a handful of tiny islands seem so critical in a body of water that is 3.5 million square kilometres big? And why does it matter to Australia?What's so important about the South China Sea?First, it accounted for about 12 per cent of the global fish catch in 2015, in a part of the world with a growing population, disposable income and appetite for protein. With 1.4 billion people, China has a huge population to feed.

The sea is dotted with islands, shoals, submerged reefs and rock forms. These consist primarily of the Paracel and Spratly Island chains, which are variously claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines. Since 2013, China has embarked on ambitious building and land reclamation projects to build up some of the islands it has claimed, including Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi reefs.

Professor Rory Medcalf, the head of the Australian National University's National Security College, sums it up like this: "First, this is a front-line issue in determining if size alone will determine outcomes in international affairs. Second, it's a critical trade and energy pipeline. Third, this is actually an environmental issue too, it's about the destruction of habitat and fish stocks.

A Chinese coast guard ship near the Scarborough Shoal, a reef in the South China Sea claimed by both China and the Philippines.In 2012, China effectively took the Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines after a showdown between Chinese fishermen fishing illegally and the Philippines' Navy.

The point of these FONOPs is simple: to send a clear message to China that the US does not recognise its island claims in the South China Sea. The move followed the decision for Australia to upgrade its long-range missile capabilities at the start of July but, significantly, Australia did not promise to conduct freedom of navigation operations within 12 nautical miles of island features claimed and, in some cases, constructed by China.

jamesmassola SouthChinaSea

jamesmassola big bully China has to feed 1.5bils those are a lot of mouths to feed They need food jobs gas n fish so they want to own China sea n Pacific Some Chinese are buying farms in Africa of all places

jamesmassola Strategic supply sea lane.

jamesmassola

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