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Situated in the South China Sea, the archipelago of Spratly Island has a total land area of 4 sq.

km, yet this small archipelago is currently the center of a major international dispute. It holds
potentially significant but largely unexplored reserves of natural gas and oil, and is one of the
busiest commercial shipping traffic, and is strategically and economically important. Many
parties (China, Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam) are claiming their political
and territorial dominance over the islands, the recognition of which will grant the countries an
extended continental shelf. China and Taiwan are claiming it on the basis of historical evidence
while other nations on the basis of United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Seas(UNCLOS).
Bilateral dialogues have not been fruitful because of Chinas dominance due to higher military
capabilities. Multilateral dialogues have also been tried like the Declaration of parties was made
by ASEAN. Which has brought peace in the region regarding free navigation and no use of direct
force against the parties, but the issue of Sovereignty over the disputed area prevails. China has
been constructing artificial islands in the region which is disagreeable for Philippines and also
for the international community which is concerned about the free navigation in the region.
This territorial dispute has also affected non-parties such as India. Indias Public sector
undertaking ONGC Videsh Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with
Petrovietnam Exploration Production Corporation Limited of Vietnam for oil and natural gas
exploration in the EEZ and Continental shelf of Vietnam. Though ,China warned India that it
cannot carry out any oil and gas explorations in the South China Sea without prior approval,
regardless India continued with the explorations. Though India is not party to the territorial
dispute in the South China Sea but the dispute is indirectly affecting the diplomatic relations
between India and China.
The matter related to South China Sea has now reached the International Tribunal For The Law
Of Seas.
With Philippines claiming that Spratly and other islands in the South China Sea are within its
EEZ and continental shelf and China claiming that the Tribunal does not have jurisdiction
regarding the issue. It appears as if the resolution of the dispute would not be easily solved.

As Spratly Island was named as an administrative district of Hainan province in 2007 that is way
after the treaty was ratified by China and hence, due to the same China cannot claim that the
UNCLOS does not has jurisdiction over the matter.
Even if the problem is not resolved by the International tribunal for the law of the seas,
mediation by a neutral party or state can be carried out so that the issue can be resolved.
Countries involved will have to follow the principles of Strategic realism as propounded by
Thomas Schelling according to which even though every state might suffer some loss, this
territorial dispute will be resolved peacefully.

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