Page No. 31 - 62: The China Seas Territorial Disputes and the Global Economy

Abstract

With China claiming the ‘nine dash or 南海九段线’ territory in the South China Sea and the territorial sea conflict with Japan on the East China Sea, the discovery of natural resources in those disputed territories and concerns that American interests in those areas are being threatened, it is imperative that concerns are clarified within the global context. Justice over these disputed territories remains a global maritime priority. Applicable law must test the legality of actions by countries involved or holding interests in the disputed sea territories. More importantly, with national economies experiencing testing times and thus cautious about maintaining control over natural resources, it is important that peace and order is cultivated while respect for countries’ interests remain cautiously secured and balanced as such disputes may escalate into economically disruptive military tensions. Global maritime economics also thrives on activities such as the exploitation and exploration of sea resources and thus it is useful to consider the impact of sea territorial disputes to such activities in the South and East China Sea. The disputed territories in casu aptly contain facts that will address the questions of justice raised in this paper. Territorial sea disputes are traditional public international legal concerns that affect countries’ sovereign rights, important maritime trade routes and other commercial interests at sea. It is thus the purpose of this paper to call for strategies that will encourage continued international amity. With China being part of the driving engine for international trade, it has become more important to understand its role in the world economy and for the world to be sensitive to the interests China has.