29th April 2025 (12 Topics)

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Sandy Cay reef

Context

China and the Philippines defended their claims to a disputed reef in the South China Sea, after Manila accused Beijing of seeking to “intimidate and harass” with a state media report that suggested the area had been seized.

About the disputed Reef

The Sandy Cay reef lies near Thitu Island, or Pag-asa, where the Philippines stations troops and maintains a coast guard monitoring base.
The reef is part of the Spratly Islands.
It is just a sand bank measuring little more than 200 square metres.
Sandy Cay has strategic value for China because international law grants it a territorial sea.
That 12-nautical-mile radius overlaps with Thitu Island, the South China Sea reef the Philippines uses to track Chinese moves in the area.

Fact Box: What is the South China Sea Dispute?

The South China Sea is a crucial waterway between the Indian Ocean and Northeast Asia. It connects ports of countries like China, Japan, Korea, and Russia.
The Territorial Dispute: Several countries, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei, have competing territorial claims over parts of the South China Sea.
China's Claim (Nine-Dash Line): China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, demarcated by the "nine-dash line" which dates back to a 1947 map. China argues that these islands and waters have been part of its territory for centuries. Taiwan, which also claims the area, mirrors China’s position.
Disputes from Other Countries:
Vietnam contests China’s claims, saying it has ruled the Paracels and Spratlys since the 17th century and has documents to prove it.
The Philippines also claims the Spratlys, emphasizing its proximity to the islands and also claims the Scarborough Shoal, which China disputes.
Malaysia and Brunei claim parts of the sea within their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), defined by international law (UNCLOS).
International Legal Developments: The 2016 UN Arbitration Ruling: In 2013, the Philippines took China to court over its claims. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in 2016, declaring that China’s claims based on the nine-dash line were illegal. This ruling was grounded in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), an international treaty governing maritime laws, which China, despite being a signatory, rejected.

PYQ

Q. Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news? (2022)

It is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around South China Sea.
China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea.
A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defence capabilities.
Though International Court of Justice declared them as no man’s land, some South-East Asian countries claim them.

Solution: (b)

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Sandy Cay reef

About the disputed Reef

Fact Box: What is the South China Sea Dispute?

PYQ