South China Sea

Emeritus Professor Carlyle A. Thayer

Presentation to Model United Nations Workshop
co-hosted by Global Rotaract and
Rotary Peace Centre, University of Queensland
Video Conference
Brisbane, Queensland
September 23, 2020
 Introduction

1. South China Sea Overview

2. Resources
3. Claimant States
4. Arbitral Tribunal Award
5. Code of Conduct
1. South China Sea Overview
International Shipping Lanes

2nd busiest waterway

US $3-5 trillion in goods
2. Resources in the South China Sea
• 190 trillion
cubic feet
of natural
gas
• 11 billion
US: China
barrels of
blocking $2.5 oil proved
billion in
hydrocarbons
and
probable
reserves
2. Resources in the South China Sea
South China Sea
accounts for 10-12% of
global fish catch

More than 50% of

world’s fishing boats
operate in the South
China Sea

Figures are contested

 3. Claimant
States
• Vietnam 21
• Philippines 9
• Malaysia 6
• China 7 + 1*
• Taiwan 2
• Brunei 0
• Indonesia

*Excludes Paracel Islands

occupied by China
 China submits
9-dash line map claiming
historic rights to the
United Nations
Commission on the Limits
of the Continental Shelf in
May 2009

Original 1948 map

produced by the Republic
of China
 4. Arbitral Tribunal Award 2016
The Philippines v China
1. UNCLOS comprehensively allocates rights in the maritime
domain
2. None of the land features in the Spratlys is an island
3. Historic rights & 9-dash line are without lawful effect
4. China failed to protect marine environment
5. China in breach of flag state obligations related to International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS)
6. China aggravated and extended the dispute
 Code of Conduct (COC)
• COC to regulate state behanviour
• Geographic scope not defined
• Legal status unclear (treaty?)
• No dispute settlement mechanism & enforcement
• Role of third parties not specified
• Convergence among ASEAN claimant states on
UNCLOS (2019-2020)
 South China Sea
Emeritus Professor Carlyle A. Thayer
Presentation to Model United Nations Workshop
co-hosted by Global Rotaract and
Rotary Peace Centre, University of Queensland
Video Conference
Brisbane, Queensland
September 23, 2020