Territorial Claims in the South China Sea and Their Economic and Political Implications

The South China Sea (SCS) is one of today's most complex and strategic geopolitical arenas where overlapping territorial and maritime claims intersect with vast economic resources and critical security interests. Its centrality stems from its status as the world's main maritime route, carrying 24 percent of global maritime trade valued at $5.3 trillion, its abundance of natural resources including oil, gas and fisheries, and the overlapping exclusive economic zone (EEZ) claims of six coastal countries.

China's Nine-Dash Line

A core dispute in the SCS lies in the fact that China claims almost the entirety of the disputed area. Its argument is not based on international law, but rather on a historical narrative backed by old maritime maps that feature a U-shaped boundary known as the nine-dash line. China is intentionally ambiguous about the line, which works like a visual perimeter rather than a rigid, legally defined boundary, forcing other nations to respond to an